TRANSPORT

Concessionary Travel

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether local authorities running alternative concessionary travel token schemes will be required to discontinue such schemes under the free bus pass scheme.

Karen Buck: No. As now, a person entitled to the statutory minimum can agree to give up that entitlement and accept an alternative concessionary fare scheme instead (e.g. tokens). They would then forego their entitlement to the statutory minimum for an agreed period. However, they must have the option to choose the statutory minimum.

Concessionary Travel

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether local authorities will discontinue concessionary travel token schemes other than the free bus pass scheme to fund the free bus pass scheme.

Karen Buck: None. However, the Department for Transport will be monitoring the introduction of the improvement in the statutory minimum, including the impacts on local schemes.

Cross-country Rail Links

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve cross-country rail links between the East and West Coast main lines.

Derek Twigg: The Trans-Pennine Express (TPE) franchise was specifically created to improve the links between the major cities of Yorkshire and the North East England and those in the North West. 51 new three-car diesel units will be delivered and phased into service by TPE during 2006 to enhance the quality of these links.

Crossrail

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the conclusions are of the most recent assessment carried out by or commissioned by his Department on the feasibility and viability of the Crossrail project; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: In 2003, the Department commissioned Sir Adrian Montague to review the business case for Crossrail. His report was published in July 2004 and is available on DfT's website at www.dft.gov.uk
	The Department subsequently worked closely with Cross London Rail Links Limited (CLRLL)—the company held jointly by the Department and TfL to take forward the development of Crossrail—to refine the scheme in preparation for the deposit of the Crossrail hybrid Bill in February 2005.
	The Crossrail environmental statement (ES) and its accompanying technical reports, which were published alongside the Bill, set out the refined scheme in detail, how it would be constructed, and how it would be operated. It can be found at www.Crossrail.co.uk.
	CLRLL has also published a revised economic appraisal of Crossrail taking into account the changes adopted as a result of Sir Adrian Montague's review, as well as changes to the DfT appraisal guidance. It can also be found at www.Crossrail.co.uk.

Free Bus Travel

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend off-peak free bus travel on weekdays, at weekends and on bank holidays to those under the age of 16 years.

Karen Buck: It is already open to individual local authorities to offer concessionary bus travel to those under 16. There are no plans at present to make such provision statutory.

Greater Western Franchise

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the passenger revenue for the Greater Western franchise was for each of the last five years, broken down by rail operator.

Derek Twigg: Franchise agreements do not normally require operators to provide passenger revenue figures as a matter of routine. Where operators do provide these figures, they do so on a commercially confidential basis.

M1

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 motorway was closed on Monday 16 January in the vicinity of junction 28; upon whose authority the closure took place; why the closure was deemed necessary; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: At approximately 12:45 hours on Monday 16 January 2006, Derbyshire police firearms response team were called to attend a potentially serious incident on the M1 motorway, adjacent to the northbound off slip road at junction 29.
	For reasons of safety to road users, the Derbyshire police closed the northbound carriageway of the M1 at junction 28 and traffic was prevented from entering the motorway.
	The southbound carriageway of the M1 between junctions 28 to 30 was also closed by Derbyshire police, with the agreement of South Yorkshire police, at approximately 13.30 hours.
	After investigating the incident and finding there was no cause for concern, the police reopened both carriageways and slip roads of the M1 at 14.15 hours.

M181

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects the M181 motorway to be resurfaced.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency currently has no resurfacing works programmed for M181. However, the Agency will be undertaking a study of the M181 road surface; depending on the findings of this study, resurfacing on parts of this route may be carried out within the next three years. Localised repairs are expected to be undertaken sooner to ensure user safety.
	The strategic road network is maintained in a safe and serviceable condition on a whole life cost principle, identifying the appropriate maintenance treatment at the optimum intervention time.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times he has visited (a) Dacorum and (b) Hertfordshire in his official capacity in the last 12 months; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Karen Buck: The Secretary of State has not made any visits to (a) Dacorum or (b) Hertfordshire in his official capacity since November 2004.

Private Aircraft

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Chicago Convention requires private aircraft operators to request permission from the Government to land in the UK.

Karen Buck: The Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation sets out the rights and obligations that apply to contracting states. Article 5 of the Convention provides that non-commercial, privately operated aircraft may fly into, transit across and stop in other states' territories for non-traffic purposes (such as for refuelling) without requiring prior permission.

Railways

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet hon. Members from the north east to discuss (a) the Northern Rail franchise and (b) the north east England rail regional planning assessment.

Derek Twigg: I should be happy to arrange a meeting.

Railways

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety provision is available for rail users at each rail station in Hampshire; what the times are of the first and last train at each station; at what times there is no staff cover at each station; at which stations security guards are located; what the name is of the lead train operating company in each case; and what improvement plans there are for (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07.

Derek Twigg: These are matters for the train operator responsible for the station concerned. All stations in Hampshire are operated by South West Trains except the following:
	Emsworth and Warblington which are operated by Southern;
	Dean, Dunbridge and Romsey, which are operated by Wessex; and
	Bramley which is operated by First Great Western Link.

Railways

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) Network Rail and (b) the British Transport police in preventing trespassing onto railway lines (i) in England and (ii) in West Lancashire constituency; and what further steps are planned.

Derek Twigg: Primary responsibility for preventing trespass on the national rail network lies with Network Rail, who work closely with the British Transport police, others in the rail industry and the wider community.
	I have asked Network Rail to write directly to my hon. Friend about work to prevent trespassing on the network in West Lancashire.

Railways

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of projected increases in rail passenger kilometres travelled when (a) allocating funding for (i) subsidies and (ii) rolling stock and (b) awarding franchises.

Derek Twigg: Invitations to tender for replacement franchises include an estimate of growth in passenger kilometres in the franchise area. Bidders are expected to take account of this when submitting their bids by specifying the rolling stock needed to deal with expected passenger numbers. Their proposals, and the resulting subsidy or premium profile, are taken into account in awarding the franchise.

Road Charging

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to allow local authorities to impose levies or charges for road use; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: In the Future of Transport White Paper (Cm 6234) the Government set out that, without radical measures, including more effective demand management, road congestion would get worse. That is why we need to look at whether road pricing would allow us to get more out of the network, particularly at peak times.
	A national scheme of road pricing which covered all roads, charging motorists on the basis of distance travelled and varied according to how congested a road is, could potentially cut urban congestion by nearly half. But moving to a national system of road pricing would be a huge and complex task. That is why the Road Pricing Feasibility Study, which was published alongside the White Paper, recommended that local or regional schemes should be used to pilot approaches to road pricing.
	The Secretary of State announced on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 172, that the Government would ensure that up to £200 million would be available from the Transport Innovation Fund to support local pilots that combine demand management, specifically road pricing, with better public transport. If more good schemes emerge, then more would be made available. The Transport Innovation Fund guidance, Official Report, column 66WS, 27 January 2006, sets out how local authorities and areas can bid for this funding.
	Because the development of these schemes will be a complex undertaking the Government have made £18 million of pump priming funding available between 2005–06 and 2007–08 to help support the work of local authorities in developing local demand management schemes. The first allocation to seven areas was announced in 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 4WS.
	Local highway authorities in England and Wales already have discretionary powers under the Transport Act 2000 to introduce such road user charging (road pricing) schemes. For a scheme to come into force an Order has to be approved by the appropriate national authority, which is the Secretary of State for transport in England.

Off-road Cycleways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the length in miles was of off-road cycleways in each local authority area in each of the last 20 years.

Derek Twigg: Information on cycle tracks (off-road cycleways) in English local authorities has only been collected since 2001–02 and is set out in the table, which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	The information is provided by local authorities on an annual basis as part of their annual performance reports on the local transport plans. It is not verified by the Department. Responsibility for the accuracy of the data rests with individual authorities. The data are incomplete and include estimates.
	A breakdown of cycle tracks by London borough is not available. Transport for London estimates that there are approximately 200 km of off-road cycle routes. The Welsh Assembly Government do not currently collect this information centrally.

Road Safety

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities have occurred in each year between 2000 and 2005 as a result of motor accidents caused by drivers (a) using mobile phones and (b) smoking while driving.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not available. However, from 1 January 2005, information on contributory factors to accidents has been collected for personal injury road accidents reported at scene by a police officer. One of the factors is driver using mobile phone". Subject to quality tests, first results should be available in autumn 2006.

Trams (Leeds)

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent, including consultants' and civil servants' costs, considering the revised tram proposals in Leeds from May 2004.

Derek Twigg: We did not keep a record of the time civil servants spent considering the revised tram proposals. The Department did not commission any consultants directly to consider the revised tram proposals in Leeds from May 2004.
	The Department did, however, commission consultants Atkins to carry out a study into a high quality bus alternative for Leeds. As part of this study, Atkins and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive's (WYPTE's) advisers considered the revised tram proposals in the context of a comparison with a high quality bus alternative. The cost to the Department of commissioning Atkins, and paying a share of WYPTE's advisers, is £93,000.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Vehicles

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles were removed and destroyed in each local authority in Gloucestershire in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Results for abandoned vehicles removed and destroyed have been reported in the Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey from 2000–01 until 2003–04. Results for 2004–05 onwards are being collected through WasteDataFlow and will be released when they are available. The results for local authorities in Gloucestershire are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Local authority 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Cheltenham n/a 648 696 n/a 
			 Cotswold 67 154 168 119 
			 Forest of Dean 186 360 466 360 
			 Gloucester 700 896 1,200 685 
			 Stroud 51 257 450 350 
			 Tewkesbury 115 150 n/a 140 
		
	
	n/a = results not available

Animal Welfare Bill

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times she has met representatives from the (a) RSPCA, (b) British Veterinary Association and (c) representative body of the Council of Docked Breeds to discuss the Animal Welfare Bill.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has held meetings at all levels with a variety of groups to discuss the Animal Welfare Bill.

Avian Influenza

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public meetings are planned to be held on avian influenza; and where they will be held.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has not organised any public meetings on Avian Influenza, however, we are running a series of regional meetings for poultry producers and others associated with the industry on a range of Avian Influenza issues.

Avian Influenza

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to the (a) chicken, (b) turkey, (c) emu, (d) duck, (e) goose, (f) game bird and (g) ostrich and rhea farming industries of an avian influenza pandemic.

Ben Bradshaw: No estimates have been made of the cost to the poultry industry in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza. Any action taken to control the disease should be proportionate and decided upon in the light of an overall assessment of the risks, costs and benefits in a particular situation.
	The cost to the industry in the event of an outbreak will depend on the circumstances prevailing at the time—not least in respect of the scale of any outbreak.

Avian Influenza

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will make funds available to (a) Vietnam, (b) Turkey and (c) other countries for the purposes of controlling the spread of avian influenza in those countries.

Ben Bradshaw: As outlined at the pledging conference held in Beijing on 17 and 18 January this year, the UK Government will assist countries at-risk or affected by avian influenza. The Department for International Development will provide £20 million over the next three years to support country, regional or global activities.
	UK research bodies are also keen to collaborate with affected and at-risk countries. The Medical Research Council recently announced a £10 million collaborative programme which can support such partnerships as required.

Avian Influenza

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ban the spreading of poultry manure as a measure against an outbreak of avian influenza; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Directive 2005/94/EC on the control of avian influenza, adopted on 20 December 2005, contains amended provisions on manure and would be implemented immediately in an outbreak of the disease.
	Under the directive, following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the movement of manure would be controlled in the surveillance zone, which extends for a minimum of 10 km around the infected premises. In these zones, no used litter or poultry manure may be removed from, or spread on, any premises unless authorised under biosecurity measures. This provision can be extended to a wider area if necessary to reduce the risk of the spread of disease.
	The same measures will be put in place following an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza. However, the restricted zone would be of a minimum of 1 km around the infected premises.

Bovine TB

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions with farmers' representatives she has had on potential market distortions arising from pre-tested cattle from an infected area selling at a premium.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The effect of pre-movement testing on cattle prices was considered in the report of the Tuberculosis Pre-Movement Testing Stakeholder Group and in a Regulatory Impact Assessment, available on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/premovement/index.htm
	Pre-movement testing will be introduced in England on 20 February. We will keep the policy under review.

Bovine TB

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to investigate the effects of the new requirement to test for bovine TB in all cattle over 15 months before movement on the holding of live auction markets.

Ben Bradshaw: Pre-movement testing will be introduced in England on 20 February and will apply to cattle over 15 months of age moving out of one to two year tested herds, unless the herd or the movement meets any of the exemptions as defined in the TB (England) Order 2005 (as amended).
	The possible impact of pre-movement testing on markets was considered in the report of the Tuberculosis Pre-Movement Testing Stakeholder Group and assessed in the regulatory impact assessment, available on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/premovement/index.htm.
	We will keep the policy under review.

Bovine TB

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on the random badger culling trial (RBCT) since 1998; and what estimate she has made of the total cost of the RBCT.

Ben Bradshaw: The randomised badger culling trial began in December 1998. To the end of 2004–05 the cost was approximately £32 million. Surveying and analytical work is continuing and is expected to cost approximately £7 million in 2005–06.

Brazilian Beef

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the (a) use of slave labour and (b) clearing of rainforest in the production of Brazilian beef exported to the UK.

Elliot Morley: The information is as follows.
	(a) The Brazilian Government is committed to eradicating slave labour practices. Legislation has now been prepared to confiscate farms that practise forced and child labour. This issue continues to be a matter of serious concern and our embassy in Brazil is monitoring developments closely. We welcome the engagement of civil society in Brazil and internationally on this issue.
	More broadly, the Government have played a leading role in ensuring that the international framework to tackle abuses of workers' rights throughout the world is in place, particularly through its work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) whose 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-Up works towards the elimination of forced labour and child labour, the ending of discrimination in employment and the right to organise and collective bargaining; and has provided specific support to the ILO's action programme on combating forced labour.
	(b) With regard to deforestation, the UK has contributed £14 million to the multi-donor pilot programme for the preservation of Brazilian rain forests and is a major contributor to the global environment facility (GEF) which is creating and maintaining protected areas in the region through the Amazon Region Protected Areas Programme. The managers of the GEF have approved or endorsed funding for 29 projects in Brazil, with a value of approximately £150 million. The UK also continues to support projects in the Amazon through multilateral organisations, including the European Commission and the World Bank.
	In terms of beef exports to the UK, our records indicate that there was a slight decrease in the amount of Brazilian beef entering the UK in 2005 compared to 2004. The UK still needs to import beef as, until very recently, we were only 70 per cent. self-sufficient in beef production. However, we do expect beef imports to now fall.

Climate Change

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what scientific monitoring her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in relation to (i) climate change in general and (ii) temperature and salinity changes in the gulf stream; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Climate change monitoring funded by DEFRA includes the accurate monitoring of global sea surface temperature by the AATSR (Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer) satellite instrument. DEFRA also contribute financially to the Argo project: a global array of over 2,000 free-drifting profiling floats that measure the temperature and salinity of the upper 2,000 m of the ocean. The Hadley Centre (UK Met Office), as part of their contract with DEFRA, monitor scientific developments in monitoring climate change that are relevant to DEFRA's needs.
	The responses of the gulf stream and other components of the North Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation are being investigated in a major joint research programme by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, (CEFAS) (funded by DEFRA and its predecessor Departments since 1985). This study monitors two components of the ocean circulation off SE Greenland that are of key importance to climate. This study and the measurement of warm, salty flows passing into Arctic to the NW of Scotland, funded by the Scottish Executive and predecessors for over 100 years, form important elements of the international Arctic-Subarctic Ocean Flux Study (ASOF), which investigates all aspects of the role of the Northern Seas in Climate; ASOF, now the largest ocean-observing system in the Northern Hemisphere, is chaired by CEFAS. The Hadley Centre, funded by my Department, is also investigating the issue of gulf stream stability and evaluating research by others in this field.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average fuel efficiency of her Department's vehicles has been in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Information on fuel use is not collected for vehicles in the Defra or Executive Agencies fleet.

Domestic Water Rates

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average annual domestic water rates were for (a) each area of England and (b) each water supplier over the last five years.

Elliot Morley: Figures for average annual domestic water and sewerage charges are not collected on a regional basis.
	Tables placed in the Library of the House show the average annual domestic water and sewerage bills for each of the water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales for each of the last five years. For ease of comparison the figures are quoted in 2005–06 prices.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the directive on a limit value for lead in the air, (b) Advisory Committee for the implementation of the directive on the reduction of sulphur content of certain liquid fuels, (c) Committee for the adaptation to technical progress and the implementation of the directive on the control of volatile organic compound emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations and (d) Committee for the implementation of the directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representation of the devolved Governments; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: There were no meetings of the Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the directive on a limit value for lead in the air, the Advisory Committee for the implementation of the directive on the reduction of sulphur content of certain liquid fuels, or the Committee for the adaptation to technical progress and the implementation of the directive on the control of volatile organic compound emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations, during the UK presidency.
	There were no meetings of the Committee for the implementation of the directive relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions in respect of the marketing of new passenger cars, during the UK presidency.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will publish the draft National Allocation Plan for phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: A National Allocation Plan (NAP) for Phase II (2008 to 2012) must be submitted to the European Commission by 30 June 2006, with a final installation-level allocation by 31 December. The Commission has recently published additional guidance on the preparation of NAPs and member states' approaches to the second phase and we are assessing the impact of this on the development of policy options. We intend to publish a draft policy NAP this spring.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methodology has been employed in the setting of the cap on emissions in the National Allocation Plan for phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: The Government are currently considering the total level of allowances (the cap) for the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. An announcement will be made in due course.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is the key lever with which the Government hope to meet their target of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.

Elliot Morley: The EU Emissions Trading is a central plank of the Government's strategy to tackle climate change. The Government are currently considering the total level of allowances (the cap) for the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and the proportion that the scheme should contribute to the UK's 2010 carbon dioxide goal. An announcement will be made in due course.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the effect of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on the profitability of the power generation sector in phase I of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: A report commissioned by DTI was published in December 2005 that provides an assessment of the impact of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on investment and pricing within the UK power generation sector in terms of electricity prices impacts, profitability and security of supply.
	This report found that, in the event of full pass-through of marginal costs, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme would result in an estimated increased profitability for the UK power generation sector of approximately £800 million/year over phase I (based on the current annual allocation of 130MtCO2).

Fallen Goats

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will remove the requirement that fallen goats must be collected by her Department's approved agents; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: All eligible fallen goats must be collected by approved agents because of our legal obligation to test for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSEs).
	Fallen Stock collections are undertaken within a preference list system organised by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). This system is essential to ensure notified goats are collected promptly and submitted for testing. Goat keepers are required to report all eligible fallen goats to a free dedicated TSE Surveillance helpline, who co-ordinate the collection process with the appropriate contractor.
	We expect the current goat surveillance requirements to be reviewed by the European Commission during 2006.

Fallen Goats

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the names of agents approved by her Department for collecting fallen goats in Devon.

Ben Bradshaw: Fallen Stock collections are carried out under a preference list system organised by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA). The RPA has contracts with Prosper De Maulder (Exeter) Ltd. and Cremtor to collect fallen goats in Devon.
	The RPA is currently taking forward a competitive tender exercise, which may result in some changes to the collection network.

Farm Subsidies

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with farmers' representatives on compensation for (a) indebtedness and (b) interest paid thereon resulting from late single farm payments.

Jim Knight: holding answer 30 January 2006
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, and the rest of the Defra ministerial team meet regularly with farmers' representatives, when the timing of payments under the single payment scheme (SPS) and the related impact on the agricultural industry are regular topics of discussion. The most recent such meeting was with the President of the National Farmers Union on 25 January, when my noble Friend, Lord Bach, reconfirmed the Government's longstanding commitment to commence SPS payments, whether full or partial, in February.

Flood Defences

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on flood defences in 2005–06; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Defra has paid £5.8 million to date in this financial year in capital grants to local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards in respect of flood defence works. Defra will pay £445.2 million to the Environment Agency as Flood Defence Grant in Aid for its flood defence work including the flood warning service.
	In addition to Defra grants, £3.8 million in credit approvals (Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue)) has been given to local authorities. These credit approvals are used by the ODPM in the calculation which determines the Revenue Support Grant, paid to authorities.

Forest Law Enforcement Governance and  Trade Processes

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the UK Government are taking to prevent circumvention through third party countries of the voluntary partnership agreements under the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade processes.

Elliot Morley: We recognise that a bilateral agreement such as the Voluntary Partnership Agreements outlined in the EU's Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation will never be watertight. Partner countries can import and export timber to third countries outside of the FLEGT scheme. The Commission's original proposal attempted to tackle this issue by requiring all imports of timber into the EU to require a certificate of origin. Customs experts felt it would not work in practice and risked a challenge under the WTO by putting a requirement on third countries.
	Despite concerted efforts by member states, no alternative measure to tackle this problem through the licensing system has been found. Instead, circumvention is tackled by making it explicit that timber defined as legally produced" will include timber imported from third countries (and therefore which could be illegally felled) and making it a requirement for Partner Countries to report on timber import levels and their actions to tackle circumvention.
	The Government see the bilateral approach of the Forests Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) dossier as an important way to develop experience in tackling illegal logging and to build the consensus that could lead to a multilateral agreement. The UK is working very hard with other consuming countries to address issues of trade with third party countries.
	Illegal logging was one of two topics of discussion at the first ever G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire in March 2005. Ministers agreed to a range of actions, and officials will meet in 2006 to review progress. The UK has also led in promoting and supporting Regional Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) processes in order to intensify national efforts and strengthen bilateral, regional and multi-lateral collaboration to address violations of forest law and forest crime.

Horses

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to establish the ownership of horses that are (a) running free and (b) tethered on public land;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to protect the welfare of horses whose ownership is not clear and who are tethered on public land;
	(3)  if she will take steps to ensure that the relevant legislation is enforced where privately-owned horses are (a) running free and (b) are tethered on public land in Wellingborough constituency.

Ben Bradshaw: The Animals Act 1971 and the Highways Act 1980 contain provisions that relate to stray horses. And responsibility for enforcing this legislation lies with the police and local authorities.
	The Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988 created a specific offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse, ass or mule by the manner or condition of its tethering. Anyone can seek to bring a prosecution where there is evidence of cruelty, either by tethering or by allowing horses to run free.
	The Animal Welfare Bill will introduce a positive duty to ensure the welfare of animals, and will allow for intervention before an animal suffers. Anyone deliberately abandoning a horse is likely to be found guilty under the Bill's new Welfare or Cruelty Offences. Alongside the Bill we intend to produce a code of practice on tethering and keeping of horses and ponies. This will also address issues relating to stray animals.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK Government's policy is towards legislation to ban illegal timber imports into the EU.

Elliot Morley: As part of the 2003 FLEGT Action Plan, the European Commission committed itself to exploring additional options to tackle illegal logging. This includes looking at outright ban on the importation of illegal timber. Government will need to look at the impact and practicality of such an option carefully, particularly the impact of requiring all timber to be identified as legal"; whether that could be enforced and the effect of such a measure on developing countries that rely on income from timber.
	The UK Government believe that, in the long term, a multilateral approach would be the best way to tackle illegal logging. However, we recognise the need to build consensus with producing countries to achieve this. The Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation, with its innovative approach of balancing bilateral trade agreements and development assistance for improving forest governance, will play a key role in realising this consensus.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the options for legislation to prevent illegal timber entering the UK.

Elliot Morley: As part of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan agreed in 2003, the European Commission committed itself to looking at additional options for preventing the importation of illegally logged timber into the EU. Government are frustrated at the time that it has taken the European Commission to produce this report and have made efforts at official and ministerial level to assist with its delivery.
	Preliminary research on additional options will now be discussed in Brussels on 31 January 2006. This will include an assessment of existing national legislation in the UK that could be used to prevent the entry of illegal timber by creating a market for legal timber supplies.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate the Government have made of the volume of illegal timber entering the UK in each of the past five years.

Elliot Morley: The UK is the world's fourth largest importer of wood products. However, we are unable to estimate how much illegally logged timber is coming into the UK as timber is not identified as legal or illegal at Ports of Entry.
	Once the recently adopted EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation comes into force it will enable member states to enter into Partnership Agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU. It will be reinforced by powers for HM Customs to take a range of actions relating to unlicensed products from partner countries; this will allow member states to prohibit the import of illegal timber from those countries into the EU for the first time.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had about illegal timber in the past 12 months.

Elliot Morley: The Government have used their presidencies of the G8 and EU to really focus on the issue of illegal logging and to promote the FLEGT Action Plan.
	Illegal logging was one of two topics of discussion at the first ever G8 Environment and Development Ministerial meeting in Derbyshire in March 2005. G8 Ministers agreed to a range of actions to tackle illegal logging and officials will meet in 2006 to review progress. Under the UK presidency of the EU, the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation was adopted at the EU Agriculture Council in December 2005.
	Defra works very closely with the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on illegal logging and Ministers continually raise the issue of illegal logging at appropriate bilateral and multi-lateral events. In particular my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Thomas) was present at the first ministerial meeting of the Europe-North Asia (ENA) Forestry Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) process in St. Petersburg in December 2005.
	Ministers have also engaged in dialogue through a range of outreach events; addressed international stakeholder meetings at Chatham House and participated in Round Tables with Industry. Ministerial evidence was submitted to the Environment Audit Committee in November 2005.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to tackle imports of illegal timber.

Elliot Morley: The principal action being taken by Government to tackle the import of illegally logged timber is implementation of the Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) regulation. This developed out of the European Commission's FLEGT Action Plan, published in May 2003. It describes a package of measures to tackle illegal logging, including proposals that the EU enters into partnership agreements with timber producing countries to establish a licensing system designed to identify products and license them for export to the EU.
	The Government are delighted that the proposal for a licensing system was adopted by the EU in December 2005, under the UK's Presidency. Government believe that as a first step to address illegal logging, it is necessary to build consensus with producing countries and make sure that we do not discriminate against legitimate trade. The EU FLEGT licensing scheme, with its innovative approach of bilateral trade agreements and development assistance for improving forest governance, will achieve this in the first instance.
	Although formal negotiations have not yet started with any country, discussions leading to negotiations have been underway with several countries where illegal logging is recognised to be a problem, and we hope that the first agreements will be in place during 2006. The UK is leading the negotiations with Ghana.
	The Department for International Development (DfID) has recently announced that it will be setting aside £24 million over the next five years for this FLEGT negotiation process and for tackling illegal logging more generally.
	The FLEGT Action Plan also proposes that the Commission look at other options to tackle illegal logging, including using Government procurement and introducing legislation to prevent the importation of illegally logged timber at a member state or EU level. They will be preliminarily discussed in Brussels at the end of January, after which a final report will be presented at Council to EU Ministers later this year.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government has in place to quantify the volume of illegal timber entering the UK; and what targets have been set for replacing such imports with legal and sustainable timber.

Elliot Morley: The UK is the world's fourth largest importer of wood products. However, we have been unable to estimate how much illegally logged timber is coming into the UK as timber is not identified as legal or illegal at Ports of Entry.
	Once the recently adopted EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation comes into force it will enable member states to enter into Partnership Agreements with developing countries and provide them with assistance to tackle illegal logging. This assistance will include a licensing system designed to identify products as legal and license them for export to the EU. This will allow us to quantify the amount of legal timber entering the UK for the first time.
	The Department for International Development has committed £24 million for its illegal logging programme and we hope under Partnership Agreements, to establish licensing schemes with as many producer countries as possible.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what further plans the Government have for legislation on the import of illegal timber within the EU.

Elliot Morley: Following the adoption of the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation by the EU in December 2005, the focus of Government is on its implementation and the development of Partnership Agreements with producer countries.
	We are waiting the results of the European Commission's Alternative Options paper. We have, along with other member states and civil society groups, been frustrated at the time it has taken the Commission to produce this report. However, we have encouraged the Commission—at official and ministerial level—to make progress and we are pleased that there is now to be an open workshop on analysing future options for EU member states Governments, industry and green groups representatives in Brussels on 31 January 2006.

Illegal Timber

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the EU Commission's proposals for further action on tackling illegal timber imports.

Elliot Morley: When the European Commission published its proposal to tackle illegal logging, the Forestry Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, it made the proposal for bilateral agreements and that it would investigate 'additional options' that went beyond this.
	Government are frustrated at the time that it has taken the European Commission to produce this report and has made efforts at official and Ministerial level to assist with its delivery. Preliminary research on additional options will now be discussed in Brussels on 31 January 2006. This will include an assessment of existing national legislation in the UK that could be used to prevent the entry of illegal timber.

PG5/2(04)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2005, Official Report, column 488W, on PG5/2(04), whether the Government are providing extra funding to local authorities to meet the cost of implementing the new regulations.

Ben Bradshaw: In accordance with the Polluter Pays Principle, the Government do not provide funding for any sector regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations to finance measures to reduce emissions.

Public Procurement

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to ensure that social criteria are included in decision-making on public procurement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The Department published its sustainable procurement strategy and toolkit in December and it can be found at http://defraweb/corporate/sdstrategy/operations/partf.htm
	Defra is awaiting the note on social issues and criteria in public procurement being prepared by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and will, in the light of this note, the National Action Plan being prepared by the Sustainable Procurement Taskforce and the new public procurement rules coming into effect on 31 January 2006, take all appropriate steps to ensure social criteria are included in its public procurement. Public procurement policy in the UK is the responsibility of the OGC.

Sea Bass

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned on the effectiveness of the 12 mile ban on sea bass pair trawling.

Ben Bradshaw: There is on-going research funded by the Department and carried out by the Sea Mammal Research Unit to monitor bycatch in all relevant UK fishery sectors and to develop mitigation measures to reduce the bycatch of marine mammals. The Department also obtains strandings data under the Defra-funded Cetacean and Turtle Strandings Scheme, carried out by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Institute of Zoology and Scottish Agricultural College.
	Post mortems from strandings can identify whether dolphins have died as a result of bycatch (if the carcasses are in a good enough state) but cannot at this stage identify individual fisheries such as the bass pair trawl fishery. Research into net marks found on cetaceans is also being undertaken but is at a very early stage.
	Results for the 2004–05 pair trawl fishery for bass show a marked decrease from the preceding year for the total numbers of dolphins observed as bycatch and the number of dolphins stranding in the south west coast has similarly decreased this year. It would however be speculative on the basis of one year's data alone to link these reductions and further analysis of the effectiveness of the 12 mile ban on sea bass pair trawling will be undertaken as further data becomes available.

Sea Bass

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking at European Union level to protect sea bass.

Ben Bradshaw: Current European Union legislation protects sea bass by specifying a minimum size of 36cm below which bass cannot be landed and corresponding mesh sizes to be used for both fixed and trawl gear when bass is targeted. The most recent scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea reports that stocks appear to be fished sustainably.
	Defra is currently conducting a consultation to explore the potential to increase the number and size of bass available to commercial and recreational fishermen.

Solid Waste (Thermal Processing)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of bottom ash produced as a portion of waste entering each solid waste thermal processing facility in England in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency conducted a study, 'Solid residues from municipal waste incinerators in England and Wales', which was published in 2002. This is the most recent collation of site-specific information available and contains information for the period 1996 to 2000 inclusive. The range of values is not anticipated to have changed significantly since the date of the report. For the plants operating at that time, the proportion of bottom ash produced in the years 1998 to 2000, expressed as a percentage by weight of waste input, is as follows:
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Bolton (1)— (1)— 39.3 
			 Coventry 22.6 20.2 16.5 
			 Dudley 24.1 21.5 21.2 
			 Edmonton 29.0 26.7 31.5 
			 Nottingham 24.9 24.6 23.7 
			 SELCHP 26.8 26.4 24.6 
			 Sheffield 23.9 35.3 38.5 
			 Stoke on Trent 25.6 25.6 24.8 
			 Billingham 28.3 33.1 35.9 
			 Tyseley 22.8 21.8 22.9 
			 Wolverhampton 26.5 26.9 24.2 
		
	
	(1) Not in operation.

Solid Waste (Thermal Processing)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much bottom ash from each solid waste thermal processing facility in England was (a) used for bulk fill, road construction or asphalt, (b) used in construction blocks, (c) sent to landfill and (d) stockpiled in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environment Agency conducted a study, 'Solid Residues from Municipal Waste Incinerators in England and Wales', published in 2002. This report provides the most recent collation of information available, which is for the period 1996 to 2000 inclusive.
	The plants identified in the report produced a total incinerator bottom ash (IBA) output of 642,000 tonnes in 2000. We are unable to identify specific fates for IBA from each incinerator.
	The disposal and recovery options used for total IBA output (in 2000) were as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 (a) Bulk fill, road construction, asphalt, etc. 28.6 
			 (b) Construction blocks 7.1 
			 (c) Sent to landfill 46.9 
			 (d) Stockpiled 14.1 
			 (e) Other 3.3

Space Debris

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on space debris.

Barry Gardiner: I have been asked to reply.
	Space debris can comprise either natural debris such as the remains of comets and asteroids or man made debris such as elements of non-operational satellites and launcher equipment.
	Space debris is an important concern because of the damage that, potentially, it can do to operational satellites or occasionally through earth impact.
	Managing space debris effectively requires an international consensus. The UK is working actively through the United Nations and the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Group to secure international agreement on space debris mitigation practices.

Whales

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many whales have become stranded and have perished around the shore of the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; and what research she has commissioned into the causes.

Ben Bradshaw: Between 1 January 1997 and 23 January 2006 a total of 360 whales were reported as stranded in the United Kingdom, and three were reported as bycatch. Table 1 provides detailed figures, broken down by year.
	These data are collected under the Defra-funded Cetacean and Turtle Strandings Scheme. The scheme is carried out by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Institute of Zoology and Scottish Agricultural College. Not only are all stranded animals recorded, but post-mortem examinations are carried out on some of the animal carcasses to establish the exact cause of death.
	The information received from this scheme has helped to inform the commissioning of two further research projects. The first is looking into the effect of acoustic noise on cetaceans, through examination of cetacean 'ears' removed during post-mortem examination. The second, an observer monitoring scheme, places observers on certain fishing vessels to observe whether there are any incidents of bycatch.
	
		Table 1—Total numbers of stranded whales for 1997—up to 23 January 2006
		
			   1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 
		
		
			 Bycatch Dead 1 – – 1 – – – – – – 
			  Died 4 2 2 – 5 3 8 1 1 1 
			 Live strandings Survived 1 – 1 – – 2 2 – – – 
			  Unknown fate – 1 – – – – – – – – 
			 Strandings Dead 38 35 37 43 49 35 22 31 37 – 
			 TOTAL  44 38 40 44 54 40 32 32 38 1

Whaling

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make representations to the Norwegian and Japanese Governments against their commercial whaling activities; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: With colleagues from 16 other countries HM ambassador in Tokyo delivered a Demarche to the Government of Japan on 16 January, protesting in the strongest terms on Japan's plans to expand its so-called 'scientific' whaling activities. The UK Government, in common with those of a majority of International Whaling Commission (IWC) members, have regularly criticised Japanese scientific whaling programmes in both the North Pacific (JARPN) and the Southern ocean (JARPA) as being of little scientific value and urged Japan to terminate them forthwith.
	We will continue to press Norway to desist from commercial whaling, which we believe contrary to the spirit of the IWC moratorium. We make our objections very clear to Norway regarding their whaling activities and will make further protests prior to and during the annual meeting of the Commission which takes place later this year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Brazilian Beef

Stephen Crabb: To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much Brazilian beef was procured for use by the House Refreshment Department in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: The Refreshment Department has not purchased any Brazilian beef in the last year.

Public Information

Roger Gale: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much the Commission allocated for public relations and information services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: Public relations and information services are an integral part of a number of House activities for which budgets are not specifically allocated, and to which costs are not directly attributed. The figures that are available show:
	
		
			£000 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Education Unit 305 294 315 
			 Information Office 771 787 751 
			 Visitor Tours (net of income) 47 37 62 
			 Broadcasting 1,414 407 265 
			 Media and Communications Services 54 79 172 
			 Websites:
			 Explore Parliament 30 105 45 
			 Early Day Motions 14 14 14 
			 Other 89 96 77 
		
	
	Figures are not available for earlier years. Exceptional costs were incurred in 2002–03 for refitting broadcasting equipment in the House of Commons Chamber, and in 2003–04 on infrastructure as well as webcasting systems. Major projects being undertaken in 2005–06 include the establishment of a web centre and further web developments for which budgets totalling £1.3 million have been allocated. The table does not include the costs of the printing and publishing contract with The Stationery Office.

Recycled Waste

Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of waste from offices of the House was recycled over the period 2000 to 2005.

Nick Harvey: Data are not separately collected which could distinguish between waste recycled from offices and from other parts of the estate. The proportion of waste recycled from the whole estate (including the House of Lords) since records began is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2002–03 38.8 
			 2003–04 26.2 
			 2004–05 29.3 
			 2005–06 (2)36.7 
		
	
	(2) April to December 2005
	Comparable figures for earlier years are not available.

PRIME MINISTER

Parliamentary Pay and Allowances

Michael Spicer: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to request the Senior Salaries Review Body to carry out a review of parliamentary pay and allowances.

Tony Blair: A review of parliamentary pay and allowances carried out by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) in 1996 included a recommendation, accepted by the Government, that parliamentary pay should be reviewed every three years, starting in 2000.

Wilson Doctrine

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish those sections of the report from the Interception of Communications Commissioner which are relevant to the Wilson Doctrine; if he will put any proposed changes to the doctrine to a vote on the floor of the House; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to my written ministerial statement, 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 173WS, and my answers at Prime Minister's questions on 18 and 25 January.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the extra £1 billion funding for the recent deployment to Afghanistan will be drawn from his Department's existing budget.

John Reid: The additional cost of operations is recovered from the Treasury Reserve.

Apache Helicopter Fleet

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) pilots and (b) engineers for the Apache helicopter fleet are expected (i) to leave and (ii) to be recruited to the service in (A) one month and (B) three months' time;
	(2)  how many (a) pilots and (b) engineers for the Apache helicopter fleet have (i) left and (ii) been recruited to the service in each quarter of each of the last three years.

Don Touhig: No Apache pilots are expected to leave the service in the next three months.
	Individuals are not recruited into the Army to pilot specific aircraft. Approximately 30 officers per year are directly recruited into the Army Air Corps following officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The Army Air Corps selects its non-commissioned pilots from either within the Army Air Corps or from other branches of the Army. Once trained, a pilot carries out conversion to type training for a particular aircraft.
	Six Apache pilots have left the Army Air Corps since 2002.
	Four engineers are expected to leave within one month and 13 engineers are expected to leave within three months.
	Engineers are not directly recruited to maintain specific aircraft. Engineering support for the Apache aircraft is carried out by aeronautical engineering officers and aviation technicians who have previously completed training on a range of Army aircraft. The Apache training course throughput for 2004 was 166 engineers. The training throughput for 2005 was 132.
	Aeronautical engineering officers, artificers and technicians in the Career Employment Groups (CEGs) of avionics and aircraft cover the full range of Army helicopters and aircraft. The following figures indicate how many soldiers in these CEGs left the Army in the last three years. Not all of these will have held specialist qualifications for the Apache.
	
		Soldiers(3)
		
			 Financial year Quarter Number leaving per quarter Total per financial year 
		
		
			 April 2002 to March 2003 April to June 27 70 
			  July to September 17  
			  October to December 14  
			  January to March 12  
			 April 2003 to March 2004 April to June 10 64 
			  July to September 25  
			  October to December 16  
			  January to March 13  
			 April 2004 to March 2005 April to June 25 95 
			  July to September 16  
			  October to December 30  
			  January to March 24  
		
	
	(3) The information relating to soldier discharge is recorded by financial year. The discharge figures are not yet available from April 2005.
	
		Officers(4)
		
			  Quarter Number leaving per quarter Total per calendar year 
		
		
			 2003 January to March 0 3 
			  April to June 1  
			  July to September 0  
			  October to December 2  
			 2004 January to March 2 4 
			  April to June 0  
			  July to September 1  
			  October to December 1  
			 2005 January to March 2 11 
			  April to June 3  
			  July to September 4  
			  October to December 2  
		
	
	(4) Officer discharges are recorded by calendar year.

Bowman Digital Communications System

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the planned conversion to the BOWMAN digital communications system will have on missions undertaken by 16 Air Assault Brigade in 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The BOWMAN conversion programme has been drawn up to take full account of planned operational deployments. 16 Air Assault Brigade is scheduled to complete the full BOWMAN conversion package by the middle of 2007. Elements of the Brigade completed part of the conversion to the BOWMAN family of radios at the end of 2005, thus ensuring that, if deployed, they are equipped with an effective and appropriate suite of communications systems.

Correspondence/Parliamentary Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) Parliamentary Questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords were dealt with by his Department in each year since 1995; in respect of the percentage his Department took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 137–140WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	Details of the number of letters from members of the public are not held centrally, though every effort is made by the Department to handle all correspondence effectively and efficiently.
	For parliamentary questions, Defence Ministers aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the day named and endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately this is not always possible but the Department makes every effort to achieve these timescales.
	Information relating to the percentage of answers that took more than one month and more than three months to answer is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to provide details of the total number of parliamentary questions from hon. Members and Lords dealt with by the Department in each year since 1995. This is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Ordinary Written Named Day Written Oral Lords Written Lords Oral Total 
		
		
			 1995 1,615 — 234 170 21 2,040 
			 1996 1,281 — 257 143 25 1,706 
			 1997 1,103 — 231 201 24 1,559 
			 1998 1,176 — 254 232 21 1,683 
			 1999 1,464 1,041 270 264 20 3,059 
			 2000 1,427 1,225 336 227 21 3,236 
			 2001 1,368 1,202 272 166 25 3,033 
			 2002 2,798 1,261 267 242 21 4,589 
			 2003 3,596 680 198 405 28 4,907 
			 2004 3,163 687 226 440 44 4,560 
			 2005 2,658 628 179 315 34 3,814 
		
	
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 2 November 2005, Official Report, columns 1067–1068W, in which I advised of our plans to introduce a new toolkit to better track and handle all parliamentary questions and correspondence later in the year; this should enable us to better monitor our performance

Falklands Garrison

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2005, Official Report, column 2053W, on the Falklands garrison, if he will break down the costs of maintaining the Falklands garrison in 2004–05 by main cost area.

Adam Ingram: The costs of maintaining the Falklands garrison in Financial Year 2004–05, broken down by main cost area, were as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Operating costs  
			 Personnel 31.5 
			 Infrastructure 10.4 
			 Consumables (including fuel) 13.2 
			 Equipment Support 3.3 
			 Contract Support 9.3 
			 Receipts -2.4 
			   
			 Non-cash costs  
			 Depreciation 38.4 
			 Cost of capital 9.4

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the (a) total and (b) net cost of (i) integrating the proposed identity card scheme into his Department's IT systems and (ii) the ongoing operation of the scheme within his Department.

Don Touhig: The Department has not finalised its estimates of the cost of using the ID Cards Scheme to support the services which it oversees.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has (a) sought and (b) received from (i) the US armed forces and (ii) other coalition armed forces concerning the administration to their forces of nerve agent pre-treatment tablets during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Don Touhig: My Department has no record of formal information exchange at a policy level with the US armed forces or other coalition armed forces concerning the use of Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Sets tablets by their armed forces during Operation TELIC. Day-to-day desk officer level exchanges of information may have taken place but this has not been formally recorded.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Al-Samawah, Iraq.

Adam Ingram: The security situation in As-Samawah is currently stable.

International Security Assistance Force

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules of engagement will govern the handling of captured prisoners by British forces under International Security Assistance Force command; and whether those rules will differ from those relating to prisoners captured by British forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1648–49, to the right hon. and learned Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram).

MONUC

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the request by United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) for a deployment of an EU force for the purpose of enhancing MONUC's quick reaction capability during and immediately after the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo;
	(2)  how many British troops will be deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the wider EU deployment.

Adam Ingram: The request, from the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, sought possible support for its mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo by having available a force that could, if necessary, be deployed during the forthcoming election period. No decision has been taken on the nature of the EU response. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, discussed this request during his meeting with the French Defence Minister, Michèle Alliot-Marie, on 24 January. They agreed that the EU should look to consider the request favourably. Any request for UK forces to be involved would need to be assessed taking into account our heavy operational commitments at that time.

Public and Commercial Services Union

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Ministers from his Department met representatives from the Public and Commercial Services Union during the Union's lobby of Parliament on 25 January; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: No Ministers from the Department met representatives from the Public and Commercial Services Union during their lobby of Parliament on 25 January.
	The Department was disappointed that the TUs took the Day of Action as they had been fully consulted on the proposals for restructuring in the Ministry of Defence. MOD has had a number of meetings with the TUs to address their concerns and will continue to work with them through discussion, to deliver a more effective, efficient service.

QinetiQ

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what aspects of the QinetiQ flotation makes it unsuitable for private investors.

John Reid: The QinetiQ flotation is not unsuitable for private investors. Private investors are able to apply for shares through a private client stockbroker if they so wish, although there is no guarantee any specific applicant will be successful. Based on advice from our financial advisers, the Government do not believe that significant expenditure on a retail offering to encourage private investors to apply for shares would present value for money for the taxpayer. Once trading has commenced private investors will also be able to buy shares in the normal way.

QinetiQ

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether proceeds from the sale of QinetiQ will be kept by the Ministry of Defence.

John Reid: We have agreed with HM Treasury that the Ministry of Defence will be able to retain a substantial proportion of the QinetiQ receipts for reinvestment in the defence programme.

Sea Cadets

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sea cadets there were in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Statistics on the number of sea cadets are published by the Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) and can be found in Tri-Service Publication number seven (TSP 07), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Details can also be found on the DASA website at: www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/tsp7/tsp7tab2.html.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a Territorial Army applicant becomes officially classified as a recruit; and what percentage of Territorial Army recruits did not complete basic Phase 1 and 2 training in each of the last five years.

Don Touhig: A Territorial Army applicant is officially classed as a recruit once he or she has been Attested. Information on the number of Territorial Army recruits who did not complete basic Phase 1 and 2 training in each of the last five years is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tristars

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Tristars are available to transport soldiers to and from (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan;
	(2)  how many C-17s are available to transport soldiers to and from (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Two of the RAF fleet of Tristars are typically available for use in moving passengers to and from Iraq. Two of the RAF C17s are also typically available for both Iraq and Afghanistan, but the service for Iraq normally carries only freight while that for Afghanistan carries a mix of passengers and freight.

War Pensions Committee

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the procedure is for resolving long-outstanding claims for war disablement pensions.

Don Touhig: The Veterans Agency is set key performance targets to process war pension claims.
	Internal targets, specific to the measurement of performance of older cases, are set at the start of each financial year, thus ensuring that the momentum on each case is sustained. Additionally, operational managers within the Veterans Agency have access to information in respect of these cases, enabling them to direct action to keep them on track.
	As a result of this proactive approach, the number of un-cleared claims in excess of 12-months-old has reduced considerably. At the end of December 2005, there were 82 such cases.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcohol Sales

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many 24-hour licences for the sale of alcohol were granted to (a) licensed premises, (b) supermarkets and (c) off-licences in 2005.

James Purnell: Based on a DCMS telephone survey of licensing authorities, we estimate that around 1,000 licences have been granted permitting the sale of alcohol for 24 hours. Of these, approximately 330 have been for pubs and nightclubs, approximately 360 for supermarkets, and approximately 130 for off-licences and convenience stores.

Anniversary Events

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) Lottery funding and (b) grant in aid has been spent on commemorating anniversary events since 1990, broken down by event celebrated; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The amount of grant in aid funding spent on commemorating anniversary events since 1990, broken down by event, is not collected centrally. Similarly, the Lottery Awards Database does not hold this information in the form requested.
	Grant in aid funding from a variety of Government Departments and other public bodies will have contributed to many anniversary and commemorative events since 1990. In addition Lottery funding will also have been used to support such events at the national level and may also have supported celebrations at a more local level.

Avian Influenza

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Royal Pigeon Racing Association on a possible avian influenza pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	Regular meetings are held between my officials and a number of key stakeholders, including the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA), to discuss the latest issues and developments on avian influenza (AI). The RPRA are also provided with regular updates and informed if there are any AI press notices, statements or any AI related EU decisions.

Civil Servants (Overseas Visits)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what costs were incurred by her Department as a result of sending civil servants on overseas visits in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: The following table shows overall departmental expenditure for overseas travel and subsistence by officials. Expenditure for the earlier year is not recorded in the format requested and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the civil service management code.
	
		Officials overseas travel and subsistence
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2005–06(5) 175,941.40 
			 2004–05 278,761.80 
			 2003–04 235,210.16 
			 2002–03 195,442.41 
			 2001–02 129,164.75 
			 2000–01 188,337.76 
			 1999–2000 193,742.97 
			 1998–99 151,307.28 
			 1997–98 175,061.96 
		
	
	(5) To 31 December 2005.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what reduction in water consumption her Department made between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2005.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport signed up for the Office for Government Commerce's Watermark" project in 2002, but their consultants were unable to identify opportunities for reductions in water consumption.
	The Department is about to undergo a water usage audit by the utility supplier, Thames Water, and will follow their recommendations.
	The Department will commence refurbishment of its main headquarters building in the next financial year, and is planning to install water saving devices as part of the project.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of non-office sites on her Department's estate where there are opportunities for significant savings in water consumption.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not have any non-office sites on its estate.

Film Council

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Government allocated to the UK Film Council in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: Government funding directly allocated to UK Film Council in each of the last five years is detailed in the table:
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Grant In Aid Lottery Other(6) 
		
		
			 2004–05 24.11 29.9 0.8 
			 2003–04 24.11 28.4 — 
			 2002–03 24.11 32.4 — 
			 2001–02 20.86 36.6 — 
			 2000–01 21.76 34.1 — 
		
	
	(6) In 2004–05, a £0.8 million modernisation award was made to the British Film Institute by the DCMS and administered by UK Film Council.

Licensed Premises

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many licensed premises there were in (a) 1994 and (b) 2004.

James Purnell: The number of premises licensed for the retail sale of intoxicating liquor and registered clubs in England and Wales as at 30 June in each year was as follows:
	
		
			  1994 2004 
		
		
			 On-licence 111,212 113,370 
			 Off-licence 47,735 46,582 
			 Registered clubs 24,239 19,913 
		
	
	Source:
	DCMS Statistical Bulletin. Liquor Licensing, October 2004.
	Statistics for theatres are not available for 1994 and 2004, but in 1995 there were 272 licensed theatres, and in 2001 there were 218.

Licensing Act

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effects of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder in Coventry South.

James Purnell: holding answer 25 January 2006
	It is too early to draw any firm conclusions about the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on the level of crime and disorder, either across the country or in any one area.
	The Government will continue to monitor the impact of the new legislation closely, including a programme of evaluation being conducted by the Home Office into the impact of the licensing reforms on crime and disorder.

Licensing Act

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what total revenue has been raised from sports and community clubs as a result of the Licensing Act 2003; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Department does not currently hold that information.
	The level of fees under the Licensing Act 2003 is currently being reviewed by the Independent Licensing Fees Review Panel, chaired by Sir Les Elton. The Government published the Panel's Interim Report on 5 December. In their report, the Panel have identified nine areas of activity that they wish to consider further during the next stage of their work. Two of those areas are licensing authority income and costs and the consequence of the new fees regime on not-for-profit groups. The full Interim Report can be accessed at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/alcohol_and_entertainment/monitoring_and_evaluation/ifreview.htm. The Panel have recently written to all Licensing Authorities in England and Wales to request details of the income they have received under the new licensing regime from different licensed sectors, including sports clubs and village and community halls, which they believe they require in order to support them in the next stage of their work. The Panel are due to present their Final Report and recommendations to Government in the autumn.

Media Company Relocation (Manchester)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the North West Regional Development Agency on location of media companies in Manchester; and whether public funding will be made available to such companies to relocate.

James Purnell: holding answer 24 January 2006
	I have corresponded with the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA), regarding the BBC's Out of London initiative. Officials have also had contact with the agency. The NWDA, with other public sector partners, is supporting the relocation of media companies to the Northwest and has committed, in principle, up to £50 million, covering areas such as infrastructure and skills development. North West Vision, the regional screen agency sponsored by the NWDA, also operates the Regional Attraction Fund and the Merseyside Film and Television Fund for this purpose.

Public Houses

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will commission research into the role played by public houses in the culture of the United Kingdom.

James Purnell: I have no plans to commission specific research in this area, although my Department will be carrying out research into the provision of live music across all venues, including pubs, during 2006. My Department is also discussing issues around live music with the 10 Scrutiny Councils.
	The Government recognises the cultural importance of public houses in the UK, as centres of entertainment, as hubs for local communities, as a diverse and vibrant part of the hospitality industry and as a unique British institution that helps make our country so attractive to overseas visitors. The reforms introduced by the Licensing Act 2003 will offer pubs greater flexibility to meet the demands of customers and to broaden their already important cultural role.

Public Houses

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of rural pubs which have closed in each of the last 10 years.

James Purnell: The Department does not hold information specifically on rural pub closures. However, the Government recognise that access to local pubs, as well as other services, is essential to ensuring that rural communities thrive and helps combat social exclusion. That is why, in settlements of less than 3,000 people, the Government have extended 50 per cent. rate relief to pubs, as well as village shops, petrol stations and small scale, non-agricultural enterprises on farms.
	Also, the Countryside Agency has been a key partner in supporting the 'pub is the hub' initiative which is encouraging diversification by rural pubs to further enhance their contribution and help sustain them as businesses. In the longer term, licensing reform will cut costs for such businesses and allow them to use the flexibility offered to better meet the needs of local people and visitors.

Sports Governance

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will implement an inquiry into the governance of rugby union; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: It is not for the Government to implement an inquiry into the governance of rugby union.
	However, by working with Sport England and UK Sport, the Government are keen to ensure that sporting national governing bodies are fit for purpose in the 21st century. As a result we have supported a number of sporting governing bodies as they have undergone the process of reviewing and modernising their governance structures.

Sports Governance

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on (a) governance, (b) regulation and (c) trading practices of association football.

Richard Caborn: I have had numerous representations about the governance, regulation and trading practices of football.
	I continue to urge the Football Association to implement the Burns Review recommendations.
	The FA must use this review to ensure they are fit for purpose in the 21st century and make the necessary changes without delay.

Sports Governance

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will implement an inquiry into sports governance; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Working with UK Sport and Sport England, the Government have supported a number of reviews into the governance of our sporting national governing bodies to ensure that these bodies are fit for purpose in the 21st century.
	While it is not for Government to implement reviews into governance, we continue to encourage best practice in governance, and UK Sport and Sport England monitor each sport as part of their funding agreements.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Start-ups

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new business start-ups there were in (a) Swindon, (b) Wiltshire and (c) the South-West in (i) 2004 and (ii) 2005.

Alun Michael: According to Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation, which includes non-VAT registered firms, there were 1,800 business start-ups in Swindon Unitary Authority in 2004.
	Barclays data show that there were 4,800 business start-ups in the county of Wiltshire—that is, not including the Swindon Unitary Authority in 2004 and 48,100 business start-ups in the whole of the South West. Data for 2005 will be available in spring 2006.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Swindon Unitary Authority, Wiltshire County 1 and the South West Government Office Region are shown in the table for 2004. Data for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
	
		VAT registrations, 2004
		
			  
		
		
			 Swindon UA 495 
			 Wiltshire County 1,450 
			 South West GOR 15,310 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2004, Small Business Service, available from the Library of the House and also at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.

Compensation (UK Courts)

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the merits of introducing legislation to allow individuals who are denied justice in their own country to seek compensation in UK courts for (a) environmental and (b) human rights abuses committed by United Kingdom companies abroad.

Ian Pearson: The Government are not considering legislation on this issue.
	UK companies that operate overseas are subject to the laws applicable in those countries which will take account of the particular circumstances and practices of each host country.
	We actively encourage UK-based international companies which operate in other countries to apply high standards of corporate behaviour, including adhering to relevant internationally agreed standards which respect human rights and the environment.
	In April 2005, the UN Commission on Human Rights appointed a Special Representative of the Secretary General to take forward work on the area of business and human rights. The two year mandate of the Special Representative includes the identification and clarification of standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for transnational corporations with regard to human rights, as well as an elaboration of the role of States in effectively regulating and adjudicating the role of business.
	The UK also plays a leading role in ensuring that the international framework to promote and to tackle abuses of workers rights throughout the world is in place, particularly through its work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which is the UN specialized agency responsible for developing, promoting and monitoring labour standards. We play an active role in the ILO Committee on Multinational Enterprises and support the promotion and follow-up of the ILO Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy which seeks to enhance the positive social and labour effects of multinational corporations' operations throughout the world.
	The Government also strongly supports the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises as a standard of good corporate behaviour and as a model to assist companies to develop their own codes of conduct. The issues they cover include labour relations and environmental and social impacts.

Directorships

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are registered as directors who are under the age of 16 years.

Alun Michael: On 31 December 2005, there were 431 directors under the age of 16. All these appointments were to companies registered in England and Wales.

Employment Status Review

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the results of the employment status review initiated in 2002 will be announced.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government intend to respond to the Employment Status Review shortly.

Energy Review

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which organisations were invited to the launch of the Energy Review, Our Energy Challenge, on 23 January; and what criteria were used to decide upon suitability of invitees.

Malcolm Wicks: A range of organisations were invited to the launch of the Energy Review to ensure a. broad and diverse set of participants and views. Attendees included representatives from unions; energy providers; energy generators; industry associations; network operators; non-governmental organisations with an interest in energy, environment or fuel poverty issues; regulatory bodies; official advisory bodies to the Government; national, devolved, regional and local government and Government Agencies; think tanks and academia.
	The launch of the Energy Review, Our Energy Challenge, on 23 January was the first outreach event in a twelve week consultation period. In the weeks until April 14, Ministers and officials will continue to engage with the stakeholders invited to the launch event and others, including parliamentary bodies. The consultation is open to all and details of how to feed in comments are available on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review).

Energy Technology Safety

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what aspects of (a) renewable energy technologies and (b) distributed generation are being examined by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of their potential risk to workers and the public.

Malcolm Wicks: In the context of the Energy Review, the Health and Safety Executive has been asked to prepare an expert report on the potential health and safety risks to workers and the public arising from recent and potential energy developments, including an increasing penetration of renewable technologies and distributed generation. The report will include an assessment of the health and safety risks associated with developments, such as wind, wave, and biomass generation projects, and their approach to ensuring that such risks are managed sensibly by industry.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what contracts the Export Credits Guarantee Department has paid out claims in each of the last five years; and for what amounts in each case.

Ian Pearson: The Export Credits Guarantee Department has paid out claims totalling £1.1 billion over the last five financial years (2000–01 to 2004–05), which can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 298,310,783 
			 2001–02 249,952,289 
			 2002–03 261,449,499 
			 2003–04 211,431,465 
			 2004–05 87,334,763 
		
	
	A breakdown of claims payments by financial year, sector and case will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Green Ministers

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at which meetings his Department has been represented regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers.

Malcolm Wicks: Following the general election in May, the Cabinet Sub-committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G)) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD)) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers.
	As the Minister of State for Energy I was appointed as our departmental Sustainable Development Minister in June 2005. In July, I attended a breakfast seminar for Sustainable Development Ministers to discuss the sustainable development strategy and Ministers role in delivering it.

Harworth Colliery

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to respond to the loan guarantee proposal made by UK Coal with regard to Harworth Colliery.

Malcolm Wicks: The proposal is under active consideration. A response will be given to UK Coal plc as soon as possible.

Indian Companies

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the five Indian companies with a presence in the UK (a) information technology, (b) pharmaceutical and (c) food sector, which had the greatest turnover in the UK in 2004–05.

Ian Pearson: According to publicly accessible information from Companies House (2004 figures), the following Indian companies are the top five in their sector in the UK based on turnover:
	IT sector
	1. Mastek (UK) Ltd.—($46,586,000)
	2. NUT Technology Ltd.—($38,444,000)
	3. Patni Computer Systems (UK) Ltd.—($17,698,000)
	4. Citisoft Public Limited Company—($16,955,000)
	5. Zensar Technologies (UK) Ltd.—($14, 954,000)
	Pharma sector
	1. Wockhardt UK Ltd.—($77,154,000)
	2. C P Pharmaceutical Ltd.—($75,311,000)
	3. Wallis Licensing Ltd.—($23,471,000)
	4. Niche Generics Ltd.—($20,881,000)
	5. Wallis Laboratory Ltd.—(n.a)
	Food and Drink sector
	1. Tetley GB Ltd.—($287,380,000)
	2. Associated Coffee Merchants (International) Ltd.—($42,310,000)
	3. Complete Coffee Ltd.—($42,281,000)
	4. The Tetley Group Ltd.—($8,147,000)
	5. Tetley Overseas Ltd.—($2,259,000)

Miners Compensation

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) law firms and (b) other organisations have received payments from his Department for work undertaken in relation to miners' compensation; and how much was paid in each case, listed in descending order.

Malcolm Wicks: On (a) , a table detailing the sums paid to individual law firms for handling miners' compensation claims has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	On (b) , other sums the Department has paid in relation to the coal health schemes since 2000 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Organisation  Role Sum paid (£ million) 
		
		
			 SEMA/ATOS Medical assessment process 198.6 
			 IRISC/Capita Claims handling 125.4 
			 Healthcall Medical assessment process 117.2 
			 Hays/Iron Mountain Records management 24.9 
			 Nabarro Nathanson Legal advice 21.4 
			 PWC Audit/Consultancy 11.6 
			 Deloitte Consultancy 9.3 
			 Irwin Mitchell Legal costs 4.2 
			 Hugh James Legal costs 2.8 
			 Thompson (Edinburgh) Legal costs 2.5 
			 Capita Health Solutions Medical assessment process 2.3 
			 Ernst and Young Audit/Consultancy 1.9 
			 McClure Naismith Legal advice 1.7 
			 Business Healthcare Records management 1.5 
			 AON Medical assessment process 1.1 
			 Thompson and Co. Legal costs 0.6

Miners Compensation

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much compensation has been paid to ex-miners in the Easington constituency in respect of (a) vibration white finger and (b) chronic bronchitis and emphysema in each year since 2002.

Malcolm Wicks: The level of compensation paid to claimants in Easington since 2002 is as follows:
	
		
			£ million 
			  VWF COPD 
		
		
			 2002 7.7 7.0 
			 2003 7.9 11.4 
			 2004 8.4 11.5 
			 2005 7.5 12.9 
			 Total 31.5 42.8 
		
	
	The COPD scheme includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

National Debtline

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many additional staff are planned to be recruited by National Debtline; how long the training process takes before these staff will be able to take calls; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: National Debtline is planning to increase staff numbers from a total of 67 at present to 99 by January 2007 and 119 by January 2008. Typically, newly recruited advisers spend their first three months in classroom training and do not take calls during this period. They are then able to take calls but continue to be closely supervised for the next six months, until they are fully trained.

Non-Fossil Fuel

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he decided to transfer funds out of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation Fund to the Treasury on 20 September; and for what reasons.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 19 December 2005
	Funds in the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation Fund were transferred into the Consolidated Fund on 20 September 2005 after the Treasury concluded, in the light of legal advice, that the funds were hereditary revenues and so were required by law to be paid into the Consolidated Fund. DTI concurred with this view.
	HM Treasury notified Ofgem on 16 August 2005.

Small Business Service

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the national targets are for the Small Business Service; and what the performance of offices covering south Devon are in relation to those targets.

Alun Michael: The Small Business Service (SBS) is responsible for delivering results against the DTI public service agreement (PSA) target 6 as follows:
	To help build an enterprise society in which small firms of all kinds thrive and achieve their potential—with (i) an increase in the number of people considering going into business, (ii) an improvement in the overall productivity of small firms, and (iii) more enterprise in disadvantaged communities."
	National performance against these targets is shown in the DTI Autumn Performance Report published in December 2005, a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House, and also at www.dti.gov.uk/about_dti_documents.html.
	For PSA 6 (iii) from the 2002 spending review, enterprise in disadvantaged areas is measured by the gap in VAT registrations per 10,000 resident adults in the 20 per cent. most and 20 per cent. least deprived areas of England. The area of south Devon is served by Business Link Devon and Cornwall. The latest figures are as follows:
	
		VAT Registrations per 10,000 resident adults
		
			 England 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—most deprived areas 25.4 25.5 26.2 28.6 27.7 
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—least deprived areas 42.4 39.9 42.5 45.3 42.4 
			 Gap 40 36 38 37 35 
			 Devon and Cornwall Business Link area   
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—most deprived areas 34.8 32.1 37.0 44.8 38.4 
			 Rate per 10,000 adults—least deprived areas 22.6 23.7 24.1 30.2 24.1 
			 Gap -54 -35 -53 -48 -59 
		
	
	The results for Devon and Cornwall show that there are more registrations per head of population in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas.
	Data for Devon and Cornwall relating to all other targets are not available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sunday Trading

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which company has been appointed to undertake the independent economic cost-benefit analysis changes in Sunday trading law; what his estimate is of the total cost of this review; and if he will publish the analysis once completed.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) on 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2001–02W. Indepen Consulting Ltd. have been chosen to conduct an independent cost-benefit analysis of the impact of further liberalisation of Sunday Trading. The cost of the study is commercially confidential. It is our intention to publish the cost benefit analysis after its completion in the spring.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

African Nations (Avian Flu)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is giving to African nations to help them prevent an avian influenza pandemic.

Hilary Benn: The threats of avian and human pandemic influenza are of global significance and require a co-ordinated global response. On 18 January, at the International Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza in Beijing, the UK committed to providing £20 million of DFID funds through multilateral channels to help achieve this.
	In addition, through our on-going involvement in Africa, DFID is keeping abreast of the country's own plans and the activities of donors relating to avian flu. We are discussing, with individual African countries the use of our bilateral aid programmes to help develop and implement integrated influenza strategies. For example, DFID have committed £1 million to prevention and control of the disease in Ethiopia. £700,000 will be used for early detection, prevention and control. An additional £300,000 will be used to establish a national focal point to address the threat posed by a human influenza pandemic.
	DFID also continues to help African countries to build comprehensive, sustainable health services which will address human influenza in addition to other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Aid Criteria/Conditionality

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the difference between his Department's definitions of aid criteria and aid conditionality.

Hilary Benn: DFID's aid allocation to particular countries is guided by a formula which takes into account the country's level of poverty and consequent need for aid, and its institutional capacity to make effective use of aid. We also take account of how much aid countries receive from other donors. Once allocated, the aid is spent through a range of channels as appropriate in the country context. These can include support through Governments to deliver their poverty reduction plans, support through civil society organisations or through international organisations such as the UN.
	DFID believes that effective aid partnerships with developing country Governments depend on shared commitments to reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)s; respecting human rights and other international obligations; and strengthening public financial management to reduce the risk of corruption. DFID uses these commitments both as our criteria for deciding whether to provide aid through Government, and as conditions for our aid. Once aid has been committed to a partner Government, DFID will only reduce it if the Government moves away from one of these three partnership commitments.

Common Agricultural Policy

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had in the EU on amending its agricultural policies to assist developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The Government have regular discussions with EU and other countries regarding their agricultural policies. Securing a good outcome to the current World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade negotiations, including on agriculture, is a Government priority.
	Recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development hosted an informal meeting of EU Development Ministers during the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, where we discussed how Europe could contribute to a successful outcome to the talks, including on agriculture. The Hong Kong ministerial did not achieve as much as we had hoped but there was agreement to end all agricultural export subsidies by 2013, which will help to remove one source of unfair competition for developing country agricultural producers.

Departmental Websites

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: The cost of maintaining the main DFID website (http://www.dfid.gov.uk) for the last year was £121,983.
	Numbers of unique visitors for the last 12 months were as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 December 2004 18,845 
			 January 2005 20,001 
			 February 2005 20,154 
			 March 2005 19,631 
			 April 2006 18,893 
			 May 2005 23,455 
			 June 2005 18,218 
			 July 2005 19,894 
			 August 2005 20,913 
			 September 2005 24,166 
			 October 2005 26,555 
			 November 2005 28,208 
			 Total 258,933

Eritrea/Ethiopia

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he is providing to (a) Eritrea and (b) Ethiopia in 2005–06 to achieve the millennium development goal on drinking water supply and waste water.

Hilary Benn: In Eritrea, DFID is funding through the International Rescue Committee, an Emergency Environmental Health programme which provides access to potable water and sanitation facilities. We also contributed £1.3 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 2005 Appeal for Eritrea which included water and sanitation work.
	Water and sanitation is an integral part of our humanitarian policy for Eritrea and we expect to make further contributions in this sector next year.
	DFID is working with key partners such as the African Development Bank and the World Bank to design a water and sanitation investment programme for Ethiopia. We are providing an adviser to assist the Ministry of Water in implementing the increasing number of water and sanitation programmes in the country. Ethiopia is the largest beneficiary among East African countries of the EU water facility's first phase of funding approvals.

Eritrea/Ethiopia

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he had with (a) members of the Prime Minister's African Commission (b) the President of Ethiopia before and after his decision to suspend UK bilateral aid to Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: I have had a number of discussions with Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia about developments in Ethiopia, most recently in Addis Ababa on 18 January, when I informed him that in the current political circumstances we will not provide general budget support which the Ethiopian Government can use for any purpose. I have had no discussions with other former members of the Commission for Africa regarding this subject.
	Bilateral aid to Ethiopia has not been suspended. The UK remains committed to supporting poor people in Ethiopia. We are working with other donors and the Government of Ethiopia to design a new, more accountable mechanism for providing assistance, so that basic services can continue to be provided throughout the country.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action his Department is taking, in conjunction with the Global Fund, to tackle the spread of AIDS in Africa.

Gareth Thomas: HIV and AIDS in Africa is a priority for DFID, as outlined in Taking Action: the UK government's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the Developing World". The strategy commits the UK Government to spending £1.5 billion over the next three years on HIV-related work.
	The UK has committed £359 million to the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria (2002–08). In July 2005, the UK doubled funding to the Global Fund to £100 million for 2006 and the same for 2007. Of total Global Fund resources, 56 per cent. of funding is spent on HIV/AIDS and 60 per cent. will go to sub-Saharan Africa.
	Across its 16 priority countries in Africa, DFID is working closely with governments and other development partners (including the Global Fund) to strengthen national comprehensive HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care services. We also address broader issues which affect HIV and AIDS such as human rights and health and education services. In countries such as Mozambique, DFID focuses on supporting national government decision-making processes in line with the 3 ones" principles (ie developing one national HIV/AIDS strategy, one co-ordinating body and one monitoring and evaluation system). In countries where working with the Government has been more difficult, such as Zimbabwe, we have been supporting UN agencies and civil society organisations to provide a range of HIV and AIDS services to vulnerable populations.

Horn of Africa

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2006, Official Report, column 925W, on the Horn of Africa, how much of the bilateral aid was diverted to (a) the Ethiopian Government, (b) non-governmental agencies and (c) other organisations operating in that country.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not diverted aid to non-governmental agencies. Although we are not providing general budget support, which the Government is able to use for any purpose, we continue to support other Government programmes such as the Productive Safety Nets programme and programmes with NGOs working in HIV/AIDS and other development activities.

Horn of Africa

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2006, Official Report, column 925W, on the Horn of Africa, what assessment he has made of the impact of his decision to suspend bilateral aid to the Ethiopian Government upon his Department's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to those worst affected by the crop failure in that country.

Hilary Benn: I have not suspended bilateral aid to Ethiopia. In the current political circumstances I have decided that we will not provide general budget support which is a form of aid the Ethiopian Government can use for any purpose.
	The UK remains committed to supporting poor people in Ethiopia. Along with other donors we continue to support the Government of Ethiopia's Productive Safety Nets programme which provides assistance specifically to those communities and households most vulnerable to crop failure. In addition, we are continuing to work with the Government and the United Nations to provide emergency humanitarian assistance where appropriate.

Kenya

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what additional support he is making available to the World Food Programme in Kenya; what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Kenya following his recent visit; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK has committed a further £3 million UK contribution in response to the food crisis in Kenya. Of this new commitment, £1 million will be channelled through the World Food Programme (WFP) for food and the balance of £2 million will be used to help with access to water. The total UK contribution stands at £13.8 million since June 2004, out of which £6.3 million has been provided through the WFP.
	An estimated total of £2.5 million people mostly in the north eastern and eastern parts of Kenya are affected by the drought. The results of a national assessment due in a week's time will determine the level of current and future needs but it is clear from my recent visit that the levels of malnutrition are unacceptably high and urgent action is needed by all parties; Government, donors, NGOs, and communities to help save the lives of those at risk.
	Food aid is critical in saving lives in an emergency but, on its own, it will not prevent another crisis happening. Each drought increases the numbers of people facing hunger. People are unable to escape poverty even in good years because they have lost or sold the assets they need to rebuild their lives. If people are to escape from this trap they need concerted effort by Governments to invest in these areas. Our support to education and health go some way towards helping. The provision of safety nets such as timely, adequate and guaranteed payments of cash or food on a regular basis to the neediest also helps rebuild lives.

Millennium Development Goals

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements have been made by the UK to deliver the commitment made at the Millennium Review Summit of September 2005 to adopt, by 2006, comprehensive national strategies to achieve the millennium development goals.

Hilary Benn: National strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals must be prepared and adopted by developing countries. The UK is encouraging partner countries to adopt new strategies, or to enhance their current national poverty reduction strategies, to plan for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We are working with other donors to develop a programme of donor meetings with individual partner countries to agree aid support for these plans.

Pakistan (Earthquake)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding has been (a) pledged and (b) delivered by the British Government to assist in the aftermath of the Pakistan earthquake.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has pledged a total of £58 million (including £1.6 million of the UK share of EC humanitarian funding) to meet relief needs and a further £70 million towards reconstruction. To date, over £52 million out of the £58 million pledged for relief has been committed to United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement, non-governmental organisations and DFID direct action. We are continuing to support the relief effort and expect the balance of our pledge to be programmed through relief organisations during the winter months.
	The European Commission has pledged €93.6 million (around £63.7 million) to relief and reconstruction. The UK's share of this is around £11 million.

Pan-African Trade

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to encourage pan-African trade.

Hilary Benn: Many African countries lack the physical, human and institutional capacity to take advantage of either regional or global trade opportunities. Infrastructure, an enabling climate for the private sector and more efficient customs at borders are high priorities for regional trade.
	DFID has committed to trebling 'aid for trade' to £100 million by 2010—aid which will be used to build up the country's capacity to trade, develop infrastructure to facilitate trade and provide transitional support as global trade barriers are removed. For example, we have pledged $20 million in support of a new Infrastructure Consortium in Africa to better co-ordinate and target financing for regional infrastructure. We have also pledged $30 million towards an Investment Climate Facility which will help make Africa a better place for business and commerce (e.g. by reforming customs to support regional trade integration). Under the UK presidency, G7 Finance Ministers also endorsed Aid for Trade, calling on the international community to increase its global contribution to $4 billion.
	In addition, DFID is helping build the trading capacity of pan-African institutions (such as the African Union-New Partnership for African Development and Regional Economic Communities in southern, east and west Africa). For example, DFID's Regional Trade Facilitation Programme in southern Africa has helped countries to analyse their trading interests so they can participate more effectively in trade negotiations. We are also developing trade programmes in southern Africa to facilitate cross-border trade by establishing One Stop Border Posts.

Public Information

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total expenditure on information campaigns and advertising was for his Department for each year since 1997.

Gareth Thomas: The expenditure on information campaigns which is managed by our publicity unit is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1996–97 579,916 
			 1997–98 399,755 
			 1998–99 674,531 
			 1999–2000 879,354 
			 2000–01 1,484,281 
			 2001–02 1,286,053 
			 2002–03 (7)1,300,000 
			 2003–04 773,772 
			 2004–05 1,496,616 
		
	
	(7) Estimate
	The expenditure on advertising, which is principally for recruitment and tenders is only available from 2000; figures prior to 2000 are not available as records were not held centrally prior to this date.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 751,972 
			 2000–01 1,208,192 
			 2001–02 914,571 
			 2002–03 849,196 
			 2003–04 700,077 
			 2004–05 397,776

Russia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is regarding the Russian Government's new legislation restricting UK non-governmental organisation operations in Russia.

Gareth Thomas: In 2005, under our EU presidency as well as bilaterally, the UK ambassador and his staff in Moscow, advocated to the Russian Authorities that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) law be implemented in line with the Council of Europe standards. This was also a position supported by other partners. The new legislation comes into effect on 10 April 2006 and DFID and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) will be monitoring the situation as the legislation is implemented.
	DFID is not providing direct support to any UK NGOs operating in Russia at present. However there are international NGOs working in the North Caucasus that are being funded through DFID and the United Nations.
	The international community, including international and Russian NGOs are concerned about the potential impact of the changes introduced in the new NGO law. DFID is concerned that the law is ambiguous and could have a serious impact on the legitimate activity of civil society organisations in Russia.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which further education colleges in Hammersmith and Fulham will receive (a) a decrease and (b) an increase in their funding for adult education, not including for basic skills courses, in 2006–07.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has not yet made allocations to further education (FE) providers for 2006–07. On 21 October I set out the Government's priorities for the learning and skills sector and the impact on funding in 2006–07 and 2007–08, and full details can be found in Priorities for Success" on the LSC's website. Following my Department's grant letter to the LSC, budgets have been allocated to LSC regions, and local LSCs will provide provisional allocations to FE colleges and providers for the 2006–07 academic year by the end of this month. Final agreed budgets are expected to be confirmed in May.

Bullying (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding will be made available to schools in Hammersmith and Fulham for anti-bullying campaigns in 2006–07.

Jacqui Smith: Ring-fenced funding for anti bullying campaigns is not made available on either a local authority or school by school basis. Rather it is a matter for schools and local authorities to decide how much of their budget they devote to this important work.
	Support for anti-bullying work is embedded in the behaviour and attendance strands of the National Strategies which have at least one consultant in place in each local authority. In addition, support is also provided through DfES funded Anti Bullying Alliance co-ordinators in each Government Office region.
	At a national level the Department has funded a number of initiatives to tackle bullying. Since 1997 this has included events to disseminate good practice, plus development of guidance and resources for schools. We have supported an award scheme to share and celebrate the excellent work of schools and young people. We have funded the voluntary sector to embed effective practice and offer training and support to schools. We have run public information campaigns encouraging children to 'tell someone' and to support their friends, as well as providing information and support to parents.

Class Sizes

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's target is for the average class size in primary schools.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 25 January 2006
	There is a statutory requirement on local authorities and schools to limit the size of infant classes for five, six, and seven-year-olds taught by one teacher to 30 or fewer pupils. There is no legal requirement to limit class sizes in any other age group, but since 1997 the average class sizes in primary schools have fallen from 27.5 to 26.2.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which her Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by her Department in each year since May 1997.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills spent the following sums from administration costs on consultancy (as defined by the Office for Government Commerce (OGC)):
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 3.9 
			 1998–99 5.0 
			 1999–00 3.7 
			 2000–01 4.3 
			 2001–02 5.0 
			 2002–03 4.0 
			 2003–04 4.7 
			 2004–05 3.9 
		
	
	The total cost of consultancy charged to programmes from November to March 2004–05 was £4.4 million. A further £9.5 million was spent in this period on other external expert advisers on education and children's matters to assist with policy implementation and delivery. The costs charged to programmes before November 2004 were not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Consultancy firms also supply a range of services which are not consultancy under the OGC definition.
	The Department does not hold the requested information on its NDPBs and other sponsored organisations. It could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Extended Schools Programme

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in which constituencies (a) (i) neighbourhood nurseries and (ii) children's trusts are located and (b) the extended schools programme is operating.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start funding was made available to 142 of the 150 local authorities to support the development and delivery of Neighbourhood Nurseries in the most disadvantaged areas of the country. Information on the constituencies in which Neighbourhood Nursery projects are located could only be obtained at disproportionate cost, but the 142 participating LAs are listed as follows:
	Barking and Dagenham
	Barnet
	Barnsley
	Bath and North East Somerset
	Bedfordshire
	Bexley
	Birmingham
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Blackpool
	Bolton
	Bournemouth
	Bracknell Forest
	Bradford
	Brent
	Brighton and Hove
	Bristol
	Bromley
	Buckinghamshire
	Bury
	Calderdale
	Cambridgeshire
	Camden
	Cheshire
	Cornwall
	Coventry
	Croydon
	Cumbria
	Darlington
	Derby
	Derbyshire
	Devon
	Doncaster
	Dorset
	Dudley
	Durham County
	Ealing
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	East Sussex
	Enfield
	Essex
	Gateshead
	Gloucestershire
	Greenwich
	Hackney
	Halton
	Hammersmith and Fulham
	Hampshire
	Haringey
	Hartlepool
	Havering
	Herefordshire
	Hertfordshire
	Hillingdon
	Hounslow
	Isle of Wight
	Islington
	Kensington and Chelsea
	Kent County
	Kingston upon Hull
	Kirklees
	Knowsley
	Lambeth
	Lancashire
	Leeds
	Leicester City
	Leicestershire
	Lewisham
	Lincolnshire
	Liverpool
	Luton
	Manchester
	Medway
	Merton
	Middlesbrough
	Milton Keynes
	Newcastle upon Tyne
	Newham
	Norfolk
	North East Lincolnshire
	North Lincolnshire
	North Somerset
	North Tyneside
	North Yorkshire
	Northamptonshire
	Northumberland
	Nottingham City
	Nottinghamshire
	Oldham
	Oxfordshire
	Peterborough
	Plymouth
	Poole
	Portsmouth City
	Reading
	Redbridge
	Redcar and Cleveland
	Rochdale
	Rotherham
	Salford
	Sandwell
	Sefton
	Sheffield
	Shropshire
	Slough
	Solihull
	Somerset
	South Gloucestershire
	South Tyneside
	Southampton
	Southend
	Southwark
	St. Helens
	Staffordshire
	Stockport
	Stockton-on-Tees
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Suffolk
	Sunderland
	Surrey
	Sutton
	Swindon
	Tameside
	Telford and Wrekin
	Thurrock
	Torbay
	Tower Hamlets
	Trafford
	Wakefield
	Walsall
	Waltham Forest
	Wandsworth
	Warrington
	Warwickshire
	West Sussex
	Westminster
	Wigan
	Wiltshire
	Windsor and Maidenhead
	Wirral
	Wolverhampton
	Worcestershire
	York
	Children's trusts are partnerships between local authorities, primary care trusts and others who have an interest in improving outcomes for children and young people. There is progress towards putting these partnerships in place in all local authorities, when children's trusts will impact on every constituency.
	All 150 local authorities have received Government funding for 2005–06 to enable them to start up, or expand, extended services available through their schools; and since April 2005, the National Remodelling Team has been working with all local authorities to support them. It is, however, for individual authorities to decide whether to roll out the programme to all schools simultaneously, or on an area by area basis. Information on the constituencies in which extended schools are located could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Faith Schools

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new faith schools have been set up in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The following table shows the numbers of new maintained schools with a religious character that have been established each year since 1997:
	
		
			 Faith 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total per Faith 
		
		
			 Roman Catholic 4 1 5 1 — — 1 — 1 13 
			 Roman Catholic/ Church of England — — — — 1 — — 1 — 2 
			 Church of England 2 5 2 3 6 10 10 10 7 55 
			 Church of England/Methodist — — — — — 1 — 1 1 3 
			 Jewish 3 3 1 — — — — 2 2 11 
			 Muslim 2 — — — 2 — — 1 1 6 
			 Sikh — 2 — — — — — — — 2 
			 Greek Orthodox — — 1 — — — — — — 1 
			 Seventh Day Adventist 1 — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Total per year 12 11 9 4 9 11 11 15 12 94 
		
	
	The table excludes schools established from the amalgamation or reorganisation of existing schools with a religious character.
	In addition to the above, eight Academies with a religious character (six Christian, one Roman Catholic and one Church of England) have opened since 1997, three of which replaced existing schools with a religious character.

Grants (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much West Lancashire constituency has received from the (a) Excellence in Cities, (b) Education Action Zone and (c) Leadership Incentive Grant Scheme in each year since the schemes began.

Jacqui Smith: Schools in the West Lancashire constituency have benefited from Excellence in Cities (EiC) funding since September 2001 and the Leadership Incentive Grant scheme (LIG) since September 2003. There was no Education Action Zone (EAZ) in the constituency and the EAZ programme has now finished. From September 2004, under the EiC Primary Expansion, funding has been allocated to local authorities in respect of all primary schools with 35 per cent. or more pupils eligible for free school meals. This includes all primary schools in West Lancashire that meet the criteria. Actual allocations vary as the funding formula is linked to pupil numbers, but funding is in the region of £110 per pupil.
	A breakdown of the EiC/Excellence Cluster and LIG funding by year for West Lancashire is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Excellence cluster LIG 
		
		
			 2001–02 389,000 n/a 
			 2002–03 666,500 n/a 
			 2003–04 666,500 500,000 
			 2004–05(8) 703,560 520,000 
			 2005–06(8) 731,702 540,000 
		
	
	(8) All figures for 2004–05 and 2005–06 include a 4 per cent. uplift on the previous year.

Heritage Restoration

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase skills training opportunities for those wishing to pursue skills relevant to heritage restoration; and what support she has made available to the Heritage Academy partnership between Woodchester Mansion Trust, Cirencester College, the Royal Agricultural College and Stroud College.

Phil Hope: ConstructionSkills is part of the Government's Skills for Business Network and jointly funds the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) with English Heritage. The NHTG has a UK-wide remit to develop skills and training provision for the traditional building crafts sector carrying out skills research, action planning, and work on qualifications. The NHTG is also part of a partnership with English Heritage, the National Trust Commission and others that recently submitted a successful application for a £900,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This will support a Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme for England and Wales to encourage the uptake in qualifications in conservation from January 2006. The Heritage Lottery Fund is also supporting a further nine partnerships providing training in heritage restoration skills with total funding of just under £7 million.
	ConstructionSkills and English Heritage were actively engaged in a conference on designing heritage skills training partnerships held at Woodchester Mansion in September 2005 and are providing ongoing advice and support through the NHTG as the academy takes forward plans to develop a Centre of Excellence in the South West.

Key Stages

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools were included in the 2005 Key Stage 4 Contextual Value Added Pilot Scheme;
	(2)  what plans her Department has to use fine grades as a measure of pupil performance;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the results of the 2005 Key Stage 4 Contextual Value Added Pilot Scheme;
	(4)  whether she plans to include the (a) contextual value added and (b) value added measure in the 2006 achievement and attainment tables.

Jacqui Smith: On 19 January 2006 the Department published the Contextual Value Added (CVA) Pilot Achievement and Attainment Tables, showing results for the 430 schools who have been involved in the CVA pilot. The pilot was designed to test the feasibility of including CVA in the tables, the methodology for which includes the use of fine grades.
	The pilot is currently being evaluated, both in terms of the impact on schools, and from a data handling and processing perspective. Evaluation of the pilot will be completed by the end of March 2006. Subject to the evaluation findings, we intend to replace the existing value added measure with the new CVA measure in the 2006 secondary achievement and attainment tables.

List 99

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many appeals against a ban on working with children have been made by people on (a) the Sex Offenders Register, but not on List 99 and (b) on List 99 in each of the last 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: Someone who is on the Sex Offenders Register but not on List 99 is not banned from working with children to the extent that he is not subject to a complete or partial bar from doing work to which section 142 of the Education Act 2002 applies.
	The annual number of appeals, to the Care Standards Tribunal in respect of listing on List 99, lodged in each calendar year is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 1 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 3 
			 2004 3 
			 2005 6 
		
	
	Prior to 2000 there was no right of appeal to an independent tribunal. The first hearing was heard in 2001.

Pupil Exclusions (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupil exclusions there have been in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Coventry, South in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: number of permanent exclusions 1996/97 to 2003/04—Coventry, South parliamentary constituency
		
			  Number of permanent exclusions 
			  Primary Secondary 
			  Number Percentage(9) Number Percentage(9) 
		
		
			 1996/97 (11)— (11)— 23 0.36 
			 1997/98 9 0.10 25 0.38 
			 1998/99 (11)— (11)— 29 0.43 
			 1999/2000 8 0.09 26 0.38 
			 2000/01 (10) 3 0.04 11 0.16 
			 2001/02 (10) (11)— (11)— 18 0.25 
			 2002/03 (10) 0 0.00 14 0.19 
			 2003/04 (10) (11)— (11)— 0 0.00 
		
	
	(9) The number of exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils on the school roll in January of the same school year. Excludes dually registered pupils.
	(10) There are known quality issues with exclusions data for these years. Figures shown here are as reported by schools but are unconfirmed and should be used with caution.
	(11) 1 or 2 exclusions, or a rate based on 1 or 2 exclusions
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Safeguarding Children

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her oral statement of 19 January 2006, Official Report, columns 966–70, on safeguarding children, whether all (a) health professionals, (b) social workers and (c) peripatetic teaching staff who work with children in schools will be subject to Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks; and what level of CRB checks will be made on those workers for whom checks will be required.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 24 January 2006
	Child care organisations proposing to offer employment in a child care position are, subject to limited exceptions, required to check whether a person is on the Protection of Children Act List of people who are unsuitable to work with children. If a person is on that list, the organisation must not offer the position. In practice, a check against the Protection of Children Act List can only be made by carrying out a CRB check. Child care organisations include organisations concerned with the provision of social services or health care services to child.
	Current guidance advises that a Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure at enhanced level is applicable for a position whose normal duties include caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children and for all other individuals whose normal duties include working in a school or an educational establishment a standard level Disclosure is applicable.
	In addition, I said in my statement of 19 January that I will require mandatory Criminal Records Bureau checks for all newly appointed school employees and that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary would be restating how the current system operates, what will change and the priority that is attached to this area.

School Performance Data

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the cost was to her Department of producing the performance and assessment data for schools issued in December 2005;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the cost of correcting and re-issuing the performance and assessment data for schools first published in December 2005;
	(3)  when schools will receive corrected performance and assessment data.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The performance and assessment reports are produced by Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 30 January 2006
	PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS 46392/46644/46645: PANDA REPORTS
	Your recent parliamentary questions have been referred to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of schools, for reply.
	In sum, you asked:
	the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was to her Department of producing performance and assessment data for schools issued in December 2005. (PQ 46392)
	the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the cost of correcting and re-issuing the performance and assessment data for schools first published in December 2005. (PQ 46645)
	the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when schools will receive corrected performance and assessment data. (PQ 46644)
	In response to PQ 46392, the PANDA (Performance and Assessment) report issued to all mainstream maintained secondary schools in England on 23 December 2005 was part of a series of reports published in 2005/06. Six sets of PANDA reports have been produced and made available to schools so far in 2005/06.
	For all 18,000 mainstream maintained primary schools in England the following PANDAs were produced:
	A PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A New Style" PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data
	For all 3,400 mainstream maintained secondary schools in England the following PANDAs were produced:
	A PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A New Style" PANDA based on 2004 validated data
	A New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data
	The total cost to Ofsted of developing, producing and supporting schools and inspectors in using the PANDAs in 2005/06 was £290,000. Appendix A provides a breakdown of these costs.
	This annual cost includes the development costs associated with the release of a New Style" PANDA in September 2005. This and subsequent PANDAs contained new analysis using more sophisticated techniques and improved presentations.
	It is not possible to identify the exact cost of producing the PANDA reports released on 23 December 2005 since the direct staff costs incurred cannot be attributed separately to the development, production and support to schools and inspectors in their use of the PANDA. However the cost of developing, producing and supporting schools and inspectors in the use of this particular PANDA has been estimated to be £50,000, equal to 1/6th of the annual cost of producing the six sets of PANDA reports released in 2005/06.
	In response to PQ 46645, the New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data and released on 23 December 2005 contained an error. The analysis in table 3.4.14 excluded A* grades from the calculations. The error required one line of programming code to be corrected. Following the correction, the production of the revised documents required IT processing time which incurred no additional cost. The only additional cost was for a letter sent to all secondary schools informing them of the error and the remedial action being taken. This additional letter cost £1,500.
	In response to PQ 46644, a corrected New Style" PANDA based on 2005 unvalidated data was made available for schools to download from the Ofsted website on 26 January 2006.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jacqui Smith and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
	APPENDIX A
	2005/06 costs for PANDA development, production and support
	Direct staff costs (including staff on-costs, NI, pension etc) = £210,000
	Comprising of:
	0.5 FTE Band A (Grade 7 equivalent)
	1 FTE B1 (SEO equivalent)
	2 FTE B2s (HEO equivalent)
	2 FTE B3s (EO equivalent)
	1 FTE C1s (AO equivalent)
	Cost of distribution of 66,000 letters to schools = £30,000
	Cost of website hosting and maintenance = £50,000
	Total 2005/06 cost for PANDA development, production and support = £290,000

Schools (Leicestershire)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Leicestershire were classed as outstanding in their last Ofsted report.

Jacqui Smith: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 26 January 2006
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	You asked how many schools in Leicestershire were classed as outstanding in their last Ofsted report.
	Inspectors have made judgements about schools' overall effectiveness since January 2000. Until July 2005 this judgement was made using a seven point scale, with the highest being excellent. Since September 2005 the judgement has been made using a four point scale. This response relates to schools judged to be either excellent or outstanding in their most recent inspection. Not quite all schools in Leicester City and Leicestershire, 92% and 97% respectively, were inspected between January 2000 and December 2005.
	Three schools in Leicester City and two in Leicestershire were judged to be excellent, using the pre-September 2005 framework. One* school in Leicester City and three* schools in Leicestershire were judged to be outstanding, using the framework now in use.
	*Please note that these figures include 3 schools that had pilot inspections during 2004/05.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jacqui Smith and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Trust Schools

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether representatives of companies from the (a) banking, (b) supermarket, (c) tobacco, (d) oil and energy, (e) fast food, (f) construction and (g) IT industries have (i) expressed an interest in, (ii) requested information about and (iii) corresponded with her Department about trust schools.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 20 January 2006
	We welcome the involvement of partners from all sectors of the community and across the economy in forming charitable trusts to support schools.
	We are engaged in ongoing discussions with a range of organisations, including representatives of companies from the banking, construction and IT industries. The recent Trust School Prospectus (www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/schoolswhitepaper) included some of these companies: Microsoft is interested in developing existing links with Monkseaton Language college into a trust, and Solihull local authority is working with a private sector business consortium on a regeneration project—as part of this a shared trust for several primary schools could help to ensure a close link between the schools, the local community and the regeneration project.
	We have had no contact with supermarkets, fast food companies or companies in the tobacco or oil and energy industries.
	It will be for individual school governing bodies to decide whether they want to acquire a trust, and to choose who they want to work with. Local authorities will be able to refer a school's decision to acquire a particular trust to the schools adjudicator if it is clear that the school has not taken proper account of the views of the majority of parents, or if there are serious concerns about the impact of the acquisition of the trust on school standards.

William Gibson

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the (a) head teacher and (b) governing body of Porchester School in Bournemouth knew that before his appointment William Gibson had a conviction for indecently assaulting a girl of 15 years of age and a conviction for fraud, forgery and theft.

Ruth Kelly: My Department does not hold this information.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2838W, on Afghanistan, how much of the Afghan Counter Narcotics Trust Fund will be ring-fenced; for what purposes; how much cash will be required for the wages and salaries of counter-narcotics staff; what mechanisms are in place to safeguard these funds; and how much of the pledged US funding has been transferred into the fund.

Kim Howells: The Counter Narcotics Trust Fund (CNTF) has been created to give the Afghans greater ownership of the counter-narcotics agenda and ensure assistance is targeted effectively. The Government of Afghanistan are encouraging international donors to make un-earmarked contributions to the fund to give the Government maximum flexibility to allocate funding in accordance with the four priorities highlighted in its National Drugs Control Strategy: disrupting the drugs trade by targeting traffickers and their backers; strengthening and diversifying legal rural livelihoods; reducing the demand for illicit drugs and treatment of problem drug users; and developing state institutions at the central and provincial level. However, in recognition of the budgetary and policy constraints under which different donors operate, it will be possible to earmark funds for one or more of the following eight pillars of activity (building institutions, information campaign, alternative livelihoods, criminal justice, law enforcement, eradication, demand reduction, regional co-operation). It is not envisaged that the wages of permanent counter-narcotics staff working for the Ministry of Counter Narcotics will be funded through the CNTF—rather the fund will be used to cover projectised activity. The United Nations Development Programme will administer the fund which will ensure transparency and accountability.
	The UK commitment of £30 million includes an initial £10 million from our Afghan Drugs Inter-Departmental Unit and £20 million from the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID's commitment will be available for alternative livelihoods, institution building, and drug demand reduction and treatment of addicts—pillars consistent with UK poverty reduction objectives.
	The US has not yet officially announced its pledge to the fund. We expect that they will do so during the London conference taking place on 31 January-1 February.

Afghanistan

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of how much heroin was produced in Afghanistan in each of the last two years; how much of that was exported to the UK in each year; what estimates he has made of the levels so far in 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: In November 2005, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) confirmed the opium poppy cultivation and opium production figures for the 2004–05 season from their annual survey. They estimated that opium production was around 4,100 metric tonnes, a decrease of only 100 tonnes (2.4 per cent.) compared to 2004, despite a significant reduction in cultivation (a 21 per cent. reduction in poppy cultivation from 131,000 hectares in 2004 to 104,000 ha in 2005). Good weather and an absence of crop disease were responsible for the increase in yield in 2005.
	The UNODC publishes figures for global illicit cultivation of opium poppy and production of opium and heroin in its annual World Drugs Report. Full details can be found on their website http://www.unodc.org. According to the 2005 report, the potential heroin production for 2004 was estimated as 500 tonnes, if all the opium produced was converted to heroin. Figures for heroin production in 2005 in Afghanistan will not be available until the publication of the Report in June this year.
	We estimate that around 95 per cent. of heroin in the UK originates in Afghanistan.
	While the figures for heroin and opium production for this season (2005–06) in Afghanistan are unavailable until later this year, the UNODC will provide an early indication of 2005–06 cultivation trends in their Rapid Assessment Survey, which is due to be published next month.

Afghanistan

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has received of Iranian assistance to terrorists and insurgent forces in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: Iran has links to a variety of groups in Afghanistan but the Government have no evidence of Iranian assistance to terrorist and insurgent forces in Afghanistan. Iran has stated that it supports the long-term reconstruction of Afghanistan and the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to build stability and security. We welcome this commitment.

Belarus

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government in Belarus regarding the treatment of Pastor Ernst Sabilo and the Belarusian Evangelical Church in Minsk in relation to restrictions placed on them by the Belarusian authorities.

Douglas Alexander: The Government continue to raise human rights issues with the Belarusian authorities, both bilaterally and with EU partners. Throughout 2005 we raised the issue of restrictions on freedom of worship, most notably in a resolution critical of Belarus' human rights record sponsored by the EU at the UN Commission on Human Rights. The Government have not made any separate representations to the Government of Belarus specifically concerning Pastor Sabilo or the Belarusian Evangelical Church. In the course of 2005, our ambassador in Minsk also met with leaders of Churches under pressure from the authorities to hear their concerns.

Bolivia

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with President Evo Morales of Bolivia on the security of British business interests in that country from nationalisation.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not yet met President Evo Morales. But we have made clear to the new Government the importance we attach to building a stable and prosperous society, founded on a sound economy. We have also set out our view that a number of British companies present in Bolivia are well placed to make an important contribution to the country's future prosperity.
	We shall continue to take every appropriate opportunity to reiterate this message with President Morales and relevant Members of his Administration.

Burma

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of how much (a) heroin and (b) methamphetamine was produced in Burma in each of the last two years; how much of that was exported to the UK in each year; what estimates he has made of the levels so far in 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that opiate cultivation in Myanmar has declined from 44,200 hectares in 2004 to 32,800 hectares in 2005. This represents a 26 per cent. fall in cultivation. In 2004, Myanmar produced 370 metric tons of opium. In 2005, the total estimated production of opium was around 312 metric tons, a 16 per cent. decrease compared with the previous year and a 76 per cent. decrease from 1998. Estimates for 2006 are not yet available.
	The UNODC estimates that about half the global production of amphetamines (mainly methamphetamine) take place in East and South East Asia, out of a total world production of 332 metric tons in 2003. Figures for 2004 and 2005 and estimates for 2006 are not yet available. The 2005 the Office of National Drug Control Policy National Drug Threat Assessment reports that Burmese criminal groups are the principal producers of methamphetamine tablets in South East Asia, with several hundred million tablets annually distributed to drugs markets in Thailand, China and India.
	There is no evidence that drugs produced in or smuggled via Burma reach the UK in significant quantities.

China

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the transfer of Chinese missile technology to Iran; and if the Government support lifting the EU arms embargo on China.

Kim Howells: Countering the threat of missile proliferation remains one of the Government's strategic priorities, particularly where such proliferation might contribute to the delivery of weapons of mass destruction. We seek to monitor missile-related transfers to Iran in this context. Assessments of proliferation activity often draw on highly classified information; it is impossible, therefore, to comment on specific aspects.
	The Government support the decision of the European Council in December 2003 to review the EU arms embargo on China. This review is on-going—it was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at December's General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Government do not wish to exclude any options for the review, or to pre-empt the conclusion of the review. There is no consensus at present in the EU for lift. Further consultations in the EU and with other international partners are necessary before any decision is taken. In the context of these discussions the EU recalls the European Council Conclusions in December 2004 that any decision on the arms embargo would not result in an increase of arms exports to China in either quantitative or qualitative terms.

Early Retirement

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: The number of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employees who took early retirement due to ill health in each of the past three calendar years was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2003 9 
			 2004 7 
			 2005 2 
		
	
	Prior to the introduction of electronic records in September 2002, the FCO did not maintain records in a form that distinguished separately those retiring for medical reasons. To collate the information requested would incur disproportionate costs.

EU Arms Exports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Ethiopia as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Eritrea as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Iran as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Liberia as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Libya as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(6)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Namibia as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(7)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Sudan as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(8)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Syria as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(9)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Tajikistan as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(10)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Kyrgyzstan as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports
	(11)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Zambia as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(12)  if he will make a statement on EU arms exports to Zimbabwe as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports;
	(13)  if he will make a statement on UK arms exports to the Democratic Republic of the Congo licensed by the Government as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

Kim Howells: The EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports was adopted on 8 June 1998. It represents a politically binding commitment by EU member states to apply common criteria when assessing export licence applications for the export of items on the common EU military list. Decisions made under the code are a matter for each individual member state.
	Licence applications in the UK for the export of military and other controlled goods are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and national export licensing criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other relevant announced Government policies. The Government will not issue licences where to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria or other relevant commitments. Further detail on UK export licence decisions for 2004 is contained in the United Kingdom Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls 2004, which was presented to Parliament on 21 July 2005.

Family Member Permits (EEA)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European economic area family member permits were issued by British missions overseas in each of the last three years.

Kim Howells: The information on EEA family member permits issued by British missions overseas in the last three years is as follows:
	
		EEA family permits issued
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002–03 20,016 
			 2003–04 21,441 
			 2004–05 24,930 
		
	
	UKvisas compiles statistics by financial year. Further entry clearance statistics in addition to those provided can be found on the UKvisas website at: www.ukvisas.gov.uk—'Entry Clearance: Facts and Figures'.

Migrant Smuggling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the death toll of migrants being smuggled to countries around the horn of Africa; what representations he has made to (a) the countries involved and (b) the UN; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We are aware that migrants transit the horn of Africa through a number of routes and that there have been tragic incidents involving loss of life, but there are no reliable statistics. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East, (Dr. Howells), raised this issue most recently with the Yemeni authorities on 24 January. We are helping the Yemeni Government to establish an effective coast guard. The Department for International Development have granted £500,000 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help the protection of internally displaced communities in the horn of Africa. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Home Office, gave the hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green) on 16 January 2006, Official Report, column 1114W.

Nepal

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Nepal about the detention under house arrest of the leaders of Nepal's five principal political parties.

Kim Howells: The UK is deeply troubled by recent political developments in Nepal. Following the arrest and detention of the leaders of the five main political parties on 19 January, I issued a statement in which I said, The UK is extremely concerned by the King's actions, and we can see no grounds for these anti-democratic measures. I call on the King urgently to release those arrested, and to find ways to resume dialogue with the political parties." The statement is available at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&c id=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1136906017567%20&year=2006&month=2006–01–02&date=2006–01–19
	The following day I summoned the Nepalese ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to explain his Government's actions to senior officials and urged the Government of Nepal to release all of the political prisoners detained in the most recent round-up of activists and party leaders.
	The UK also joined EU partners in issuing a statement by EU Heads of Mission in Nepal deploring all of the recent arrests including of party leaders, political activists, members of civil society and human rights defenders. This is available at: http://www.ambkathmandu.um.dk/en/menu/TheEmbassy/News/StatementOfTheEUHeadsOfMissionInNepal.htm
	We view the recent arrests and the suspension of the right to free association as a severe setback to democracy and we continue to urge the King to urgently find ways to resume dialogue with the political parties. We are encouraged to note that many of the party leaders who were detained have now been released. But 200 political party activists are still in detention including one of the top party leaders who is still being held under house arrest.

Russia

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plans to take during Russia's presidency of the G8 to encourage (a) democracy and (b) a free media in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In the run up to the Russian presidency of the G8, the UK has encouraged the Russian authorities to maintain the high standards on the promotion of democratic and civil freedoms upheld by successive G8 presidencies. The UK, along with other G8 members, reiterated this message at the first preparatory meeting for the St Petersburg Summit, held in Moscow last week. These efforts are in keeping with our ongoing EU and bilateral dialogues with Russia, where we continue to emphasise that respect for democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, a free and independent media, and the effective application of common values by independent judicial systems are key elements of our relations with Russia.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the statutory instruments introduced by his Department since 6 May 2005.

Kim Howells: Statutory Instruments prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and coming into force after 6 May 2005 are:
	
		
			  Statutory Instruments 
		
		
			 2005/1260 The Child Abduction and Custody (Parties to Conventions) (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 2005/1258 The Sudan (United Nations Measures) (Overseas Territories) Order 2005 
			 2005/1461 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (United Nations Sanctions) (Overseas Territories) Order 2005 
			 2005/1456 The G8 Gleneagles (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2005 
			 2005/1465 The Consular Fees Order 2005 
			 2005/1870 The International Organisations Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005 
			 2005/1988 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Restrictive Measures) (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 2005/2047 The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2005 
			 2005/2112 The Consular Fees Act 1980 (Fees) Order 2005 
			 2005/2762 The Consular Fees (Civil Partnership) Order 2005 
			 2005/2763 The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 2005/2761 The Civil Partnership (Registration Abroad and Certificates) Order 2005 
			 2005/3182 The Consular Fees (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 2005/3198 The Consular Fees Act 1980 (Fees) (No.2) Order 2005 
			 2005/3183 The Overseas Territories (Zimbabwe) (Restrictive Measures) (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 2005/3426 The European Forest Institute (Legal Capacities) Order 2005 
			 2005/3425 The European Court of Human Rights (Immunities and Privileges) (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 2005/3542 The Civil Partnership Act 2004 (International Immunities and Privileges, Companies and Adoption) Order 2005

UK Arms Exports

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK arms exports to China licensed by the Government as referred to in the Seventh Annual Report on the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

Kim Howells: Licence applications for the export of military and other controlled goods are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time and other relevant announced Government policies. The Government will not issue licences where to do so would be inconsistent with the criteria or other relevant commitments. The Government continues to implement the EU Arms Embargo on China as set out by the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, in his reply to the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 240–241.

Visitor Visas

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing charges for visitor visas.

Kim Howells: People who apply for entry clearance to visit the United Kingdom are charged:
	£50—for single, double and multiple visits, when the visa is valid for up to six months;
	£85—for multiple visits, when the visa is valid for one, two, five or 10 years.
	Entry clearance application fees are set to reflect the actual cost of processing each application. UKvisas does not receive any subsidy from the taxpayer and is mandated by Treasury guidelines to recover the cost of the UK's global entry clearance operation through its fees. The Government believes that those who benefit from the service should pay for it.

Whaling (Norway)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 195W, on Norway whaling, what the estimated cost is of cleaning up old whaling stations on South Georgia; and what steps the Government is taking to encourage a greater contribution from the Norwegian Government.

Douglas Alexander: The cost of cleaning up the former whaling station at Grytviken was approximately £6.7 million. This cost has been borne exclusively by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is difficult to estimate the cost of carrying out a similar operation at Leith Harbour, Stromness and Husvik whaling stations, but it is unlikely to be less than £20 to £25 million.
	Although Norwegian commercial interests and personnel were heavily involved in the whaling industry in South Georgia, the Norwegian Government has never had any direct responsibility for the whaling stations on South Georgia. It has indicated that it is not in a position to make a financial contribution towards the environmental clean-up.

Younas Case (Pakistan)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made in the Younas case currently before the High Court in Pakistan; and if he will take steps to reiterate the Government's case against the use of the death penalty and for the need for a fair trial conducted without fear of intimidation.

Kim Howells: We have not made any further representations on this case since the answer that my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Europe, (Mr. Alexander), gave my hon. Friend on 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 300W. We were concerned to learn about the apparent misuse of the Blasphemy Law in Pakistan and are monitoring this case closely. Mr. Masih's application for bail was heard on 31 January. The court has not yet announced its decision on this application. We continue to lobby, both bilaterally and as part of the EU, on minority issues in Pakistan, in particular the misuses of the Blasphemy Law. In December 2005, as presidency the UK delivered an EU de"marche on human rights to the Government of Pakistan, which encouraged the repeal of the Blasphemy Laws and the death penalty.

SCOTLAND

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the premises occupied by his Department is fitted with audible fire alarms.

David Cairns: 100 per cent.

Christmas Cards

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the cost to his Department of sending Christmas cards in 2005.

David Cairns: The total cost of official Christmas cards issued by the Scotland Office and by the Office of the Advocate-General for Scotland in 2005 was £1,034. This cost comprised that of purchasing the cards (£808) and the cost of postage (£226).

Departmental Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machine his Department owned in (i) Scotland and (ii) each English region in (A) 2003–04 and (B) 2004–05.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not maintain a central record of all electrical devices owned. The information requested could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Estate

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the former (a) buildings and (b) land of his Department which has been sold since 7 May 1997; what the sale price for each (i) was at the time of sale and (ii) is at current prices; and whether the money accrued was (A) retained by his Department and (B) claimed by the Treasury.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999; since that date, no property or land has been sold.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual expenditure on (a) fixture and fittings, (b) general office expenses and (c) office equipment was of his Department in (i) Scotland and (ii) each English region in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General have premises in London and Scotland but do not record expenditure in a way which would allow the accurate allocation of expenditure between the buildings. The total costs were:
	
		
			£000 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Furniture and Fittings 26 4 25 
			 General Office Expenses 1,759 1,788 1,621 
			 Office Equipment 58 6 22 
		
	
	The Offices spent £16,945 on furniture and fittings, £846,008 on general office expenses, and £36,295 on office equipment between 1 April and 31 December 2005.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of his Department in (i) Scotland and (ii) each English region in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office spent the following on repairs and maintenance:
	
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Scotland 38,712 67,289 41,643 
			 London 60,598 112,564 332,485 
		
	
	The Office has spent £11,314 in Scotland and £97,045 in London on repairs and maintenance of buildings between 1 April and 31 December 2005. The Office has not purchased any buildings or staff insurance.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual expenditure on training and development by his Department was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

David Cairns: The total direct expenditure by the Scotland Office on training was:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 25,202 
			 2003–04 23,483 
			 2004–05 11,123 
		
	
	The Office spent £8,460 on training between 1 April and 31 December 2005.

Departmental Expenditure

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on bottled water in 2004–05.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office spent £2,418 on bottled water in 2004–05.

Departmental Functions

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which functions of his core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administrative costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

David Cairns: The most readily available information about the functions and costs of the Scotland Office are set out in the Annual Report 2005 (Cm 6544), copies of which are available in the Library.

Departmental Functions

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what functions in his Department are carried out in Scotland; and what the administration costs of these functions were in the last year for which figures are available.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to PQ 39825 from the hon. Member for Moray.

Departmental Jobs

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of jobs in his Department are located in (a) Scotland and (b) Greater London.

David Cairns: Figures for the Scotland Office, including the Office of the Advocate-General for Scotland, are published in table D of the Civil Service Statistics 2004 which is available on the Cabinet Office Statistics website: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil _service/statistics/civil_service_statistics/index.asp.

Departmental Staff

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants in his Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available.

David Cairns: All the staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA).
	Although no staff in the Scotland Office have formally worked from home in the last year, both the Scottish Executive and the DCA are committed to achieving a work life balance for all staff. Both Departments fully recognise the broad context of diversity and promotion of homeworking as one of several ways in which staff can work flexibly.

Domestic Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the valuation of domestic property in Scotland for taxation purposes is an (a) devolved and (b) reserved matter.

David Cairns: This matter is devolved.

Older People (Care)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with the Scottish Executive on policy on care for older people.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with Scottish Executive Ministers to discuss a range of issues but care for older people is largely a devolved matter.

Pension Contributions

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost of pension contributions incurred by his Department was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

David Cairns: The pension contributions incurred by the Scotland Office were:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 273,694 
			 2003–04 271,431 
			 2004–05 233,906 
		
	
	For 2005–06, employers' contributions are payable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 to 24.6 per cent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a full scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect the cost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme. The planned costs for 2005–06 are not available.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol-free Zones

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alcohol-free zones there are in each local authority area.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 enables local authorities to restrict antisocial public drinking by introducing a Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) in areas where there is a problem with alcohol misuse behaviour. These are sometimes mistakenly referred to as alcohol-free zones. Once in place a DPPO provides the police with the power to enforce the restriction, where necessary because of antisocial alcohol misuse, by confiscating both opened and sealed containers. There are currently 331 DPPOs and some areas have introduced more than one. A full list of the DPPOs currently in place can be found on the following website: www.crimereduction.gov.uk/alcoholorders09.htm

Asylum Seekers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many asylum decisions have been taken in each month of the last two years; and how many have been judged as late and opportunistic;
	(2)  what the average time is which has elapsed before asylum applicants judged late and opportunistic are deported; and what measures are in place to ensure that such applicants are deported quickly;
	(3)  what the average cost has been of dealing with each asylum applicant judged late and opportunistic;
	(4)  how many asylum applicants judged late and opportunistic have been considered unsuitable for detention in each month of the past two years; and where they have been located;
	(5)  what the nine asylum routes are under the New Asylum Model;
	(6)  what arrangements are in place to detain those asylum applicants that are judged late and opportunistic; and how many such applicants have been detained;
	(7)  if he will make a statement on the New Asylum Model;
	(8)  how many asylum applicants judged late and opportunistic have been deported in each month of the last two years.

Tony McNulty: Information on asylum initial decisions by month is published quarterly. Copies are available from the Library and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html Late and opportun- istic" is not, however, a category of asylum decision, but a part of a casework-handling process which has not, prior to the advent of the New Asylum Model (NAM) in 2005, been dealt with as a discrete category. We have not as yet decided the appropriate format in which to publish NAM data.

Asylum Seekers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers accommodated in (a) England, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Peterborough City Council Unitary Authority and (d) Peterborough constituency, were granted (i) asylum, (ii) indefinite leave to remain and (iii) refugee status in each of the last 10 years; and how many illegal immigrants who had been accommodated in each area have been deported in each of the last 10 years.

Tony McNulty: Statistics on the location of persons who were granted indefinite leave to remain and those who were granted refugee status in each of the last 10 years is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by the examination of individual case records.
	Data on asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) broken down by parliamentary constituency are also available from the Library.
	Information on the number of people who were deported from the UK is published on an annual basis in the Home Office Command Paper, Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom". It is not possible to break this information down by the region that they were residing in.

Community Safety Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional police community safety officers were allocated to each English police force in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06; how many he estimates will be allocated in each year to 2008–09; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Community Support Officers (CSOs) are police staff who are employed by police authorities. In March 2005 there were 6,300 CSOs in England and Wales. Under the Neighbourhood Policing Fund (NPF) we are investing £88 million in 2006–07 and £340 million in 2007–08 to help the police service to recruit 24,000 CSOs by 2008. We are currently considering proposals from forces for recruitment of CSOs over the next two years. An announcement on NPF allocations will be made shortly.

Computer Misuse Act

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to update the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to ensure reasonable penalties for misuse.

Paul Goggins: The Police and Justice Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 25 January 2006. Clauses 33 to 36 relate to computer misuse and in particular the Computer Misuse Act 1990. Specifically, we are seeking to amend:
	Section 1(3) of the Act to increase the term of imprisonment for an offence of unauthorised access to a computer system from six months to two years;
	Section 3(7) of the Act to increase the term of imprisonment for an offence of unauthorised modification of computer material from five to 10 years; and
	Section 3 of the Act to clarify that all means of interference with a computer system are criminalised; in particular, ensuring that adequate provision is made to criminalise all forms of Denial of Service attacks.

Correspondence

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to send a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Clwyd, West of 11 October 2005, reference M24593/5.

Tony McNulty: I replied to the hon. Member for Clwyd, West on 27 January 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Department will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood of 6 December 2005 on behalf of Harmesh Kumar Sharmar (Home Office reference S1172939, acknowledgement reference B29103/5).

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 27 January 2006.

Departmental Staff

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in his Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office offers a range of flexible working options to help staff balance their work and home lives. This includes the option of working from home.
	The Department does not record ad hoc occasions or informal home working arrangements and as a result is only able to provide the number of staff by area who have a formally agreed home working pattern.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Home Office (Including the Immigration and Nationality Directorate)(12) 17 
			 National Probation Directorate(13) 30 
			 United Kingdom Passport Service 67 
			 HM Prison Service(14) — 
		
	
	(12) These data cover the year to August 2004 as this is the last period for which data are available. Data on home working rates for 2005 are not centrally available owing to the move to a new personnel system.
	(13) This does not include staff who are directly employed by the 42 Probation Boards.
	(14) Data are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years.

Charles Clarke: Figures for disciplinary action and sanctions for the Home Office and its Agencies are shown in the table. Disciplinary action against staff may only be taken following an investigation. The figures for 'cases' therefore refers to the number of investigations undertaken in any given year and the result of some investigations—where no evidence of misconduct is found—will not lead to any sanction. Sanctions may range from a verbal or written warning; a bar on applying for promotion; withholding of pay increases and/or bonus payments; suspension from duty with loss of pay; downgrading; and dismissal (this list is not exhaustive).
	Core Home Office and Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)
	Decisions in respect of the disciplinary process were delegated to the line management chain with effect from January 2005. It is not possible to link investigations to specific sanctions applied in relation to each investigation except at disproportionate cost.
	HM Prison Service (HMPS)
	Decisions in respect of the disciplinary process are devolved to a local level in the Prison Service. The information required is not collated centrally in the requested format and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	United Kingdom Passport Services (UKPS)
	The disciplinary process was devolved from HQ to Regional Offices on October 2002. Cases that are 'not found' are not recorded, as is true for any case dealt with informally by managers.
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
			  Cases Sanctions Cases Sanctions Cases Sanctions Cases Sanctions Cases Sanctions 
		
		
			 Core HO 16 11 15 11 22 12 22 5 11 7 
			 IND(15) 43 32 153 103 102 65 108 56 172 141 
			 HMPS(16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 UKPS(17) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 62 n/a 35 
		
	
	(15) Figures for IND 2001 are only partial due to change in recording method.
	(16) Figures are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	(17) Figures for investigations 'not found' are not recorded. Data are not available pre-2004.

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Charles Clarke: The following document gives the user statistics for www.homeoffice.gov.uk. We measure site use by counting page impressions—requests for a complete page of information—rather than hits, which are generally understood to be requests for each of the files making up a page. A page can consist of any number of files, so that page impressions are more meaningful than hits as a measure of use.
	The running costs of the main departmental website—www.homeoffice.gov.uk—are met from the existing budget for running all of the core Home Office sites, which was £500,000 for the 2005–06 financial year. Separate totals are not kept for the maintenance costs of individual sites, including the main departmental website.
	
		
			 2005 Page impressions 
		
		
			 January 2,275,687 
			 February 2,091,180 
			 March 2,332,527 
			 April 2,253,402 
			 May 2,024,887 
			 June 1,879,621 
			 July 1,908,006 
			 August 1,914,551 
			 September 2,100,385 
			 October 3,175,862 
			 November 3,134,966 
			 December 1,938,310 
			 Total 27,029,384

DNA Database

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 1523W from the Leader of the House, that the Home Secretary is reviewing the cases of 24,000 children on the DNA National Police Database who have not been charged or cautioned for any offence, when he plans to make a statement about the review.

Andy Burnham: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is not reviewing the cases of individuals, children or adults, whose DNA samples have been retained even though they have not been charged or cautioned.
	From an operational perspective, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has for some time been developing guidelines to allow, in exceptional circumstances only, the removal of individual profiles from the database. These will be issued shortly.

DNA Profiles

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1111–12W, on DNA profiles, whether all the 24,000 individuals were still under 18 years on 1 December 2005 when the information was collated.

Andy Burnham: Yes. On one December 2005, there were 24,168 persons under the age of 18 on the National DNA Database who had been arrested and had a DNA sample taken but who had subsequently not been charged or cautioned for any offence.

Drug Seizures (Livingston)

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much property was seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency in Livingston in 2005.

Paul Goggins: This is a matter for the Scottish Executive and my hon. Friend may wish to write to them about this issue.

Exclusions

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been excluded from the UK as Muslim extremists in the last five years; and how many individuals from around the world are on his Department's database as having demonstrated unacceptable behaviour.

Charles Clarke: 22 individuals have been excluded on grounds of unacceptable behaviour since the list of such behaviours was published on 24 August 2005. The 22 individuals include anti-abortionists, animal rights activists and extremists from different religious backgrounds.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many written representations in support of the Government's introduction of national identity cards he has received since 1 October 2005; and if he will list the individuals and organisations which made those representations.

Andy Burnham: Since October 2005, the Identity Cards Programme Team has received 31 written representations from individuals in support of the Identity Cards Scheme. It would not be appropriate to list the names of the individuals who wrote these representations, as they have not given their permission for their names to be disclosed.
	Since October 2005, the Identity Cards Programme has received no written representations from organisations either in support or otherwise of the Identity Cards Scheme. However a number of organisations responded to the consultation on the Identity Cards Bill in July 2004.
	The consultation documents and a list of who responded can be found on the website at www.identitycards.gov.uk.

Identity Cards

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the technical specifications for the identity card database will allow two-way data sharing with the CORE database.

Andy Burnham: The Identity Cards Programme is currently specifying technical requirements for the National Identity Register (NIR) in advance of a procurement process. There is no specific requirement that the National Identity Register must be able to conduct two-way data sharing with the CORE database. The Government set out the role of the National Identity Register and the Identity Cards Scheme in relation to electoral registration and voting in its evidence to the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions Committees published by the Committees on 16 March 2005.

Identity Cards

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from representatives of (a) Christian, (b) Hindu, (c) Muslim and (d) Sikh communities relating to the photographic element of the proposed identity card scheme in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: In the last 12 months, the Identity Cards Programme has received four representations from individuals concerning the photographic element of identity cards. None of the correspondents disclosed their religion, and the focus of their representations was a concern that individuals required by their religion to cover their face should not be exempted from the requirement to have their photograph taken.
	In December 2004, the Identity Cards Programme conducted a special issues research which included individuals from various faith groups. The full results can be found on the website at www.identitycards.gov.uk. However, Muslim and Sikh women expressed concerns about removing their religious garments at an enrolment centre.
	A head and shoulders photograph showing features of the face will be included on the card. Regulations about types of photographs will be in line with those currently in place for passports and driving licence photographs. The UK Passport Service exercises its discretion as far as possible. However, the over-riding rule (set by international standards) is that the applicant's photo should show a full face and that all features should be clearly distinguishable.
	At some DVLA offices, Muslim women are offered a facility to go to a private office and reveal their face to a female member of staff so that their face can be matched against the photograph. The operation of ID cards will include guidance along these lines to ensure discretion and sensitivity.

Identity Fraud

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the levels of identity fraud in other countries (a) with and (b) without identity cards.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 24 January 2006
	The most recent study of identity fraud in other countries is contained in the 2002 Cabinet Office publication Identity Fraud: A Study". This study is available from the publications archive page on the identity cards website—www.identitycards.gov.uk. Chapter 6 summarises the results of research on the extent and nature of identity fraud overseas and action taken to counter identity fraud. The countries examined which had an identity card scheme were, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Spain and Germany. The other countries involved were, the USA, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, all of which do not have identity cards.
	One of the main conclusions of the research was that all countries experience difficulty in establishing levels of identity fraud. The research also suggests that countries which use existing identifiers as pseudo identity numbers", such as the social security number in the USA, encounter many problems with identity fraud and with establishing the validity of the number, not least because it was not intended to be used for the wide variety of purposes that have become commonplace in the absence of a securely issued identity number.

IMPACT

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the additional (a) manpower and (b) resources required by police forces in England and Wales to implement and use the IMPACT Nominal Index; what the total cost is of implementing and using the IMPACT Nominal Index in each force; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total cost is of implementing and using the IMPACT Nominal Index in each child abuse investigation unit; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The IMPACT Nominal Index (INI) was delivered to a child abuse investigation unit (CAIU) in each police force in England and Wales on 23 December in accordance with recommendation two of Sir Michael Bichard's report following the murder of the Soham schoolgirls. It is already proving its value to the police service in enabling officers to establish whether other forces hold relevant information on people of interest to them.
	There is currently no available information on the overall cost to forces of using and implementing the system, though an evaluation of the way in which it is used and the resource consequences is in hand. However, preliminary modelling carried out by the IMPACT Programme last year indicated that using the system and responding to requests for information generated by users in other forces could theoretically require up to 600 staff costing around £11 million per annum across the 43 forces if the INI was deployed to, and used to its full extent by, all CAIUs. For this reason, the INI is being gradually deployed to forces over an extended period to allow for the evaluation of the consequential demands.
	Most of the other costs associated with developing and deploying the INI have been borne centrally.

IRA Deaths (Gibraltar)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the SAS soldiers responsible for the deaths of three IRA terrorists in Gibraltar in 1998 could face charges as a result of (a) the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on 4 May 2001 and (b) the historic investigations by the Royal Military Police and Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 28 November 2005
	I have been asked to reply.
	The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on 4 May 2001 relating to deaths in Northern Ireland involving the security forces found that the United Kingdom failed in those cases to meet its obligations to secure the right to life in Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Objections similar to those raised in the ruling of 4 May 2001 were made to the investigation and inquest into the deaths of the three IRA terrorists in Gibraltar, but the inquest jury decided by a majority that the deaths were lawful. I understand that the Gibraltar case does not come within the remit of the historic inquiry team of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which is to review unresolved deaths that took place in Northern Ireland only. Furthermore, the Royal Military Police is not investigating these deaths.

IT Systems

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the performance of the Libra IT system; and if he will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	There are two distinct parts to the Libra IT system. Libra Office Automation has provided infrastructure and modern office automation services, including e-mail, word and internet access, to more than 12,000 users in magistrates courts since 2003. The system consistently exceeds performance levels for availability.
	The Libra case management application has been subject to a rigorous process of system testing and user acceptance testing, which commenced in April 2005. The application is currently in live operation at Kingston magistrates court and in trial operation at a further three pilot sites to ensure that a robust solution is delivered prior to commitment to national rollout.

Khat

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will add khat to the list of substances controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Paul Goggins: No. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in Parliament on 19 January that he had accepted the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that khat should not be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Life Sentences

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time served in prison by offenders given a life sentence was between 1976 and 1995.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the length of time served for those released in 1994 to 2004 can be found in table 10.5 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/05: Offender Management Caseload Statistics, England and Wales, 2004, published on 16 December 2005, and also available on the Home Office website.
	For the equivalent information for the years 1983 to 1993, see table 8.5 in Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1993, Cm. 2893; for the years 1978 to 1988 see table 8.5 in Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1988, Cm. 825. Copies of all these reports can be found in the Library.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) flights and (b) helicopter flights have been taken by Ministers within his Department for (i) UK and (ii) overseas visits in each year since 1996; on how many occasions (A) charter flights were used and (B) first and club class tickets were obtained; and who accompanied the Ministers on each trip.

Charles Clarke: All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are in the Library.
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list indicates when non-scheduled flights were used, and shows how many officials accompanied Ministers in those circumstances. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Library. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2005–06 will be published after the end of the financial year.

Ministerial Visits

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions on which he and the Ministers in his Department have undertaken overseas visits in the course of their ministerial duties since 1 January 2005; and what the (a) purpose and (b) duration was of each visit.

Charles Clarke: In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Library. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2005–06 will be published after the end of the financial year.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library.

National Policing Agency

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from police forces and police authorities requesting the establishment of a national policing agency dedicated to countering terrorism and domestic extremism.

Hazel Blears: No official representations have been made by either police forces or police authorities requesting the establishment of a national policing agency dedicated to countering terrorism and domestic extremism.
	There are appropriate regional and national CT structures in place to combat the terrorist threat. The Association of Chief Police Officers' Committee on Terrorism and Allied Matters sets policy and strategic direction for counter terrorism policing at a national level. Police counter-terrorist efforts are co-ordinated regionally and nationally through the Regional Intelligence Cells, the work of the National Coordinator of Special Branch and the National Coordinator of Terrorist Investigations while ensuring that force special branches maintain the essential link to local policing and local communities. The Metropolitan Police Service also has national counter terrorism responsibilities including a number of specialist units which provide support to forces. As with other aspects of policing, these structures are kept under constant review.

National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit after the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Paul Goggins: As wildlife crime does not fit within the remit of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, discussions are currently taking place in order to find a long-term location for the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit, so that it can continue its valuable work in the future.

Police

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many business plans for police forces in Wales were received by 21 December 2005.

Hazel Blears: A joint submission from all four Welsh forces was received on 23 December 2005.

Police

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the allocation was of (a) police officers and (b) civilian police staff in each of the three basic command units in the Cambridgeshire constabulary area in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05.

Hazel Blears: The available information relating to the numbers of police officers in each basic command unit (BCD) within Cambridgeshire police force area, is provided in the following table.
	Information on the allocation of police staff in each BCD within Cambridgeshire has not been published as this figure cannot be disaggregated from other police support staff groups. As at 31 March 2003 Cambridgeshire had 786 police staff, as at 31 March 2004 this was 838 and as at 31 March 2005 this was 832.
	
		Police strength (full-time equivalents)(18) in Cambridgeshire, by basic command unit (BCU) and year
		
			 BCU 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Cambridgeshire Central 339 360 312 
			 Cambridgeshire Northern 360 356 308 
			 Cambridgeshire Southern 397 394 365 
			 Central Services 295 304 433 
			 Total 1,391 1,412 1,418 
		
	
	(18) Contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.

Police

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the business plans and implementation plans he has received relating to police force restructuring.

Hazel Blears: No. As part of the process for determining viable options, police forces and authorities have submitted detailed and sensitive data on protective services. I will not be placing this information in the Library although some of this may be available directly from forces and authorities.

Policy Reviews

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the policy reviews his Department has conducted in each year since 1997.

Charles Clarke: The Department maintains all of its key policies under review. In 2004 the Department used this ongoing review work to inform Confident Communities in a Secure Britain, which sets out the Department's policy priorities until 2008. The Department has subsequently published 'Controlling our Borders: Making Migration Work for Britain' and, in conjunction with the Department of Constitutional Affairs and Office of the Attorney-General, Cutting Crime, Delivering Justice, setting out our respective five-year strategic visions on asylum and immigration and criminal justice. Copies of these documents are available on the Home Office websites (www.homeoffice.gov.uk; www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk).
	In addition, the Department monitors the functioning of its policies. Key policies and reviews which are publicly disclosable are placed on the Department website to enable full public access.

Prisons

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish all the data from the Prisons Resettlement Survey 2003.

Fiona Mactaggart: The key findings from the 2003 resettlement survey were published in February 2005 in Home Office Research Findings 248". This was published as an online publication and can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/rfpubs1.html
	The findings from this survey (and equivalent surveys for 2001 and 2004) form the basis of a reconviction study which is currently being undertaken. This will include an analysis of any association between a range of factors (such as having employment and/or accommodation arranged and having received a visit during custody from a family member or partner) and subsequent proven reoffending. Initial results will be available in early summer, with publication later in the year.

Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons have a service level agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Office for Contracted Prisons has performance management responsibilities for the three service level agreement (SLA) prisons (Her Majesty's Prison Blakenhurst, Her Majesty's Prison Buckley Hall and Her Majesty's Prison Manchester) who operate contracts won by the public sector following a commercial tendering process.

Prisons

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prisoners (i) entering adult prisons and (ii) leaving prison on release from their first sentence and (b) under 21-year-olds entering young offender institutions on their first custodial sentence could not read or write to a sufficiently high standard to apply for a job via a job centre in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	We do not collate the information requested centrally, however Home Office statistics show that 37 per cent. of prisoners have reading skills below level 1. (Prison Statistics for England and Wales 2002).
	As a result of learning and skills provision in prisons, the number of basic skills awards achieved by offenders in custody exceeded 63,000 in 2004–05 and the national probation directorate exceeded its annual target for basic skills awards with nearly 9,500 awards achieved by offenders in the community.
	The Green Paper, Reducing Re-offending through Skills and Employment" (Cm 6702) launched by Ruth Kelly on 15 December, set out the Government's strategy to improve the skills and job prospects of all offenders, so that more offenders secure employment in order to reduce reoffending.

Prostitution

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) cases have been reported and (b) persons have been prosecuted for employing a prostitute (i) under the age of consent and (ii) who has no right to work in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 26 January 2006
	Prior to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 coming into force the relevant offences were related to brothel keeping and living on the earnings of a prostitute. The 2003 Act introduced a new offence relating to the abuse of children through prostitution and pornography. The available statistics are set out in the table, but it is not possible to break them down in terms of the age or immigration status of the victim.
	
		Recorded offences
		
			  Exploitation of prostitution(19) Abuse of children through prostitution or pornography(20) 
		
		
			 2000–01 129 n/a 
			 2001–02 129 n/a 
			 2002–03 127 n/a 
			 2003–04 183 n/a 
			 2004–05 117 98 
		
	
	(19) Keeping a brothel is a summary offence and not included in the recorded crime series. The exploitation of prostitution group includes living on immoral earnings.
	(20) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force in 2004.
	
		Prosecutions
		
			  Brothel keeping offences Living on immoral earnings 
		
		
			 2000 27 35 
			 2001 14 34 
			 2002 18 47 
			 2003 11 41 
			 2004 27 42

Racial and Religious Hatred Bill

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the role of the Attorney-General in relation to prosecutions under the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.

Paul Goggins: The requirement for the Attorney-General to give his consent to any prosecution brought under the provisions of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill is something that has been raised on a number of occasions during the passage of the Bill through Parliament. The Home Office has also received a considerable number of letters about this provision from MPs and members of the public.
	The Government believe the need for the consent of the Attorney-General for prosecutions to proceed is an important safeguard that will help to prevent spurious and vexatious cases coming to court. This provision already applies to the existing offence of incitement to racial hatred.

Railway Enthusiasts (Anti-terrorism Legislation)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport and (b) the British Transport Police on the application of anti-terrorism legislation to the activities of railway enthusiasts who choose to photograph trains and stations.

Charles Clarke: The application of anti-terrorism legislation in relation to rail enthusiasts is not an issue that has been raised in discussions between myself, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport or the British Transport Police.
	Rail enthusiasts can be a valuable asset in the fight against terrorism. They have experience and knowledge of the railway system that can enable them to identify anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. All members of the public are encouraged to be vigilant and report any such concerns to the police.
	The use of anti-terrorist powers should always be an appropriate and proportionate response to the threat. That threat remains real and serious, and in the light of the terrorist attacks on seven and 21 July last year, it is quite right that the police should take every measure to safeguard security around our transport infrastructure. While the police do not target the use of anti-terrorist powers against rail enthusiasts, photographing trains and railway stations can be an indicator of possible hostile terrorist reconnaissance and officers who encounter such activity may deem it appropriate to use stop and search powers under the Terrorism Act 2000, when appropriate

Rape

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of specialist services available to rape victims.

Paul Goggins: The Government are currently conducting a mapping exercise of specialist support services for victims of sexual violence in England and Wales. Over the last two years £4 million from the Home Office Victims Fund has been used to support the development of sexual assault referral centres and strengthen specialist voluntary sector services for victims of sexual violence. A further £1.25 million will be made available for voluntary sector sexual violence services in 2006–07.

Rates

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid by the National Offender Management Service in rates to each relevant local authority in the UK in 2004–05; and how much was paid (a) in each (i) nation and (ii) region of the UK and (b) in London.

Fiona Mactaggart: The rates paid by the Prison Service in England and Wales in 2004–05 was £25,504,569.79 and is shown as follows by:
	Country
	English regions
	Billing authority
	London figures are included under English regions. Wales is not divided into regions.
	The total rates paid by the Probation Services in England and Wales in 2004–05 were £8,209,424.33.
	Probation rates are shown as follows by:
	three probation divisions (represent separate contractual regions for estate management and facilities management services)
	10 NOMS regions
	Probation Board (42 boards across England and Wales)
	London figures are included under board and region (identical breakdown).

Rental Costs

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid in rent for properties by the National Offender Management Service in 2004–05 (a) in total, (b) in each (i) region and (ii) nation of the UK and (c) in London.

Fiona Mactaggart: The total rent paid by the Prison Service in England and Wales in 2004–05 was £3,957,000. This is broken down by region. The Prison Service does not pay any rent in respect of its London headquarters buildings as these are part of the former Common User Estate owned by the Home Office. Rents paid to other Government Departments have been excluded.
	The SW region includes the rent paid for the Weare mooring.
	The total rent paid by the Probation Services in England and Wales in 2004–05 was £14,958,782.38.
	Probation rents by:
	three Probation Divisions (represent separate contractual regions for Estate Management and Facilities Management services);
	10 NOMS Regions;
	Probation Board (42 boards across England and Wales).
	London figures are included under board and region (identical breakdown).
	
		Prison and probation rents—2004–05 figures
		
			  £ 
			 Regions Probation rents 
		
		
			 East 1,586,651 
			 East Midlands 1,036,719 
			 London 4,380,219 
			 North East 545,701 
			 North West 1,340,846 
			 South East 2,252,546 
			 South West 553,578 
			 Wales 751,869 
			 West Midlands 1,533,688 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 976,965 
			 Total 14,958,782 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			 Regions Prison rents 
		
		
			 East Anglia 168,000 
			 London 651,000 
			 Northern 78,000 
			 North West 563,000 
			 South East 38,000 
			 South West 1,408,000 
			 West Midlands 68,000 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 368,000 
			 Total 3,957,000

Reoffending Rates

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reoffending rate was for individuals serving (a) custodial sentences and (b) community service orders in (i) England, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) Tamworth constituency in 2004–05.

Fiona Mactaggart: Reoffending rates are not currently available on a regional basis.
	National reoffending rates are published in 'Adult reoffending: results from the 2002 cohort'. Home Office Statistical Bulletin 25/05'. This is available on the Home Office's website, http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/hosbpubs1.html.

Security Clearance

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Ms L.W., of Chillington in Totnes constituency, will receive the confirmation of security clearance to commence duties as an higher executive officer with the Home Office; and for what reasons there has been the delay since (a) she was offered the position on 23 August and (b) human resources department confirmed her clearance to the hon. Member for Totnes in October.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 28 November 2005
	The delay between 22 August and 24 October was largely because Ms L.W.'s application was temporarily misplaced within the Human Resources Directorate of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND). The team dealing with the application were, at the time, processing an exceptionally large number of applications. Ms L.W. was granted provisional clearance on 24 October to enable her to take up her post in IND on a conditional basis. Ms L.W. was placed on the next available training course which began on Monday 28 November. Ms L.W.'s necessary pre-employment checks have now been completed and she has been informed of this.

Substance Abuse Offences

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2005 to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam, Official Report, column 406W, on substance abuse offences, how many people in the South West region were convicted for (a) drunkenness, (b) driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs and (c) causing death by dangerous driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in (i) 2003, (ii) 2004 and (iii) 2005.

Paul Goggins: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of persons convicted for drunkenness, driving after consuming alcohol or taking drugs and causing death by dangerous driving when under the influence of drink or drugs in the South West region, 2003–04 is given in the following table. Court statistics for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Number of offenders found guilty at all courts for various offences in the South West region, 2003 and 2004(21)
		
			  Drunkenness (simple)(22) Drunkenness (with aggravation(23)) Driving after consuming alcohol or drugs(24) Causing death by dangerous driving or careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs(25) 
		
		
			 2003 350 1,998 406 27 
			 2004 290 1,286 389 24 
		
	
	(21) These data are provided on the principal offence basis
	(22) Includes offences under S.12 Licensing Act 1872, Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 SS.1(4), 1 A(4), 2.(2) and S.12 Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
	(23) Includes offences under S.91 Criminal Justice Act 1967.S.12 Licensing Act 1872, S.174 Licensing Act 1964, S.9(4) Late Night Refreshment Houses Act 1969, S.28 London Hackney Carriage Act 1843, SS.101(1)(a)(b), (4) and (5) Merchant Shipping Act 1995, S.2 Licensing Act 1902 and S.61 Town Police Clauses Act 1847
	(24) Includes offences under sections 4(1),4(2), 5(1 )(a), 5(1 )(b), 6(4) and 7(6) Road traffic Act 1988
	(25) Includes offences under Road Traffic Act 1988 S.1 as added by Road Traffic Act 1991 S.1 and Road Traffic Act 1988 S.3A as added by Road Traffic Act 1991 S.3 and amended by Criminal Justice Act 1993 S.6

Tasers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances tasers have been fired in each police constabulary in England.

Hazel Blears: I have indicated to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that I am content for taser to be made available to Authorised Firearms Officers as a less lethal option for use in situations where a firearms authority has been granted alongside conventional firearms.
	Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) are, in accordance with the ACPO Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms, issued with firearms where the authorising officer has reason to suppose that they, in the course of their duty, may have to protect themselves or others from a person who is:
	in possession of a firearm, or
	has immediate access to a firearm, or
	is otherwise so dangerous that the officer's use of a firearm may be necessary.

Telephone Tapping

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) discussions his Department has had and (b) research he has commissioned on changing the policy on tapping right hon. and hon. Members' telephone lines; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed Parliament on 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 173WS, the Government are considering advice from the Interception of Communications Commissioner on this matter. I and my officials have been consulted as part as this process. I have not commissioned any research.

Under-age Drinking

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) businesses and (b) individuals were prosecuted for supplying alcohol to youths under the age of 18 years in (i) England, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) West Lancashire constituency in each of the past five years.

Paul Goggins: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for the number of (a) businesses and (b) individuals prosecuted for supplying alcohol to youths under the age of 18 years in (i) England, (ii) Lancashire in each of the past five years is shown in the table.
	The offence of selling alcohol to persons aged under 18 years of age was introduced to the penalty notice for disorder scheme from 1 November 2004 aimed at staff working in licensed premises found to commit this offence. Data from 2004 and provisional data from January to September 2005 showing the number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PND) issued for the sale of alcohol to persons under the age of 18 are provided in the following table.
	It is not possible to identify those prosecuted or issued with PNDs in the West Lancashire constituency because centrally available data is not broken down to that level of detail.
	The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005. Data for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
	
		Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to underage persons in (i) England, and (ii) Lancashire, 2000 to 2004 1
		
			England Lancashire 
			 Offence description Statute Year Businesses Persons Businesses Persons 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises. Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para. 4(1) 2000 1 112 0 1 
			   2001 — 143 0 13 
			   2002 2 147 0 14 
			   2003 28 533 0 23 
			   2004 20 733 0 21 
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1964, Sec.181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec. 17. 2000 0 2 0 0 
			   2001 0 3 0 0 
			   2002 0 2 0 0 
			   2003 0 12 0 0 
			   2004 0 5 0 0 
		
	
	(26) These data are on the principal offence basis.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Solicitor-General 
	(1)  on how many occasions the Law Officer's Department have consulted citizens' juries on departmental polices in the last five years;
	(2)  on how many occasions the Law Officer's policy has been changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury in the last five years;
	(3)  on how many occasions when a citizens' jury has been consulted by the Law Officers' Department the recommendations of the jury have differed from existing departmental policy.

Mike O'Brien: None of my Departments have consulted citizens' juries over the last five years and no changes have been made to departmental policies to reflect recommendations from citizens' juries

Law Officers (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Solicitor-General how many staff employed by the Law Officers live in Castle Point.

Mike O'Brien: The Serious Fraud Office, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and HMCPS Inspectorate have no records of any staff living in Castle Point.
	The number of staff employed by the Crown Prosecution Service and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office who live in Castle Point is withheld under section 12a, of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Law Officers (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Solicitor-General what (a) land and (b) property is owned by the Law Officers in Castle Point.

Mike O'Brien: None of the Law Officers' Departments owns any land or property in the Castle Point.

CABINET OFFICE

Minister Without Portfolio

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason a Government car has been made available to the Minister without Portfolio.

Jim Murphy: The Minister without Portfolio has the use of an official car to assist him in executing his Government duties. He uses the car in accordance with the requirements of Travel by Ministers.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Judiciary

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House how many motions calling for the removal of a member of the judiciary were tabled in each session of Parliament since 1976.

Geoff Hoon: Readily available information indicates six occasions on which a motion for a Humble Address for the removal of a High Court Judge has been tabled since 1976. (No such motion for an Address to remove a judge has been passed in either House since 1830.)
	Equivalent information is not available for motions relating to other members of the judiciary. Such motions would not take the form of an Address. Further information can be obtained from the Journal Office.

WALES

Departmental Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machine his Department owned in (i) Wales and (ii) each English region in (A) 2003–04 and (B) 2004–05.

Peter Hain: In June 2003 the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). All computer equipment needs are provided to the Wales Office under DCA's contract with Liberata UK, in line with the Government private finance initiative.

Industrial Heritage Museums

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with (a) the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Culture and (b) Cadw in respect of opportunities to promote tourism and employment through the establishment of industrial heritage museums.

Nick Ainger: I have regular discussions with the Assembly Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport about matters affecting his portfolio, which includes responsibility for Cadw.
	I share the Assembly Government's recognition of our industrial heritage as a valuable resource for the development of tourism. The Herian" initiative in South Wales, for example, aims to develop a sustainable approach to interpreting and promoting the area's unique and fascinating industrial heritage for the benefit of visitors and local communities.

RAF St Athan

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what elements made up the £15.9 million spent on land acquisition and development costs at RAF St. Athan since its acquisition by the Welsh Development Agency in 2003.

Peter Hain: Wales is home to some major aerospace companies and is therefore well placed to capitalise on the growth in this sector. To that end, the WDA completed the acquisition of a 125-year lease of RAF St. Athan on 14 August 2003 with the objective of redeveloping the site to create a world-class aviation business park.
	The acquisition costs include the following elements:
	
		
			  Acquisition costs (£000) 
		
		
			 Purchase of RAF St. Athan site 8,000 
			 Purchase of additional land 3,397 
			 Feasibility studies, fees, works 2,314 
			 Airfield costs 1,551 
			 Remediation and demolitions 675 
			 Total 15,937

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to secure access to the services of the Royal Shrewsbury hospital for Welsh patients.

Nick Ainger: Responsibility for the provision of health care in Wales rests with the Welsh Assembly Government. I have regular discussions with the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, Dr. Brian Gibbons.
	From these discussions, I understand that an agreement for treating Welsh patients during 2005–06 is in place between the Royal Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust and Powys local health board. Both bodies will ensure that Welsh patients will receive health services when needed.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Antrim Area Hospital (Pain Clinic)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional financial resources have been put in place to provide for referrals to the Pain Clinic, Antrim area hospital in each of the past four years.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Health and Social Services Board has advised that the following investments have been made on a year on year basis in the pain management service in the United Hospitals Health and Social Services Trust:
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 176,000 
			 2003–04 156,000 
			 2004–05 142,000 
			 2005–06 158,000

Antrim Area Hospital (Pain Clinic)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) priority and (b) routine referrals have been made for appointments at the Pain Clinic, Antrim area hospital in each of the past four years.

Shaun Woodward: The total number of referrals (priority and routine) received at Antrim area hospital in each of the last four years is shown in the following table. The outpatient referral system does not provide a breakdown between priority and routine cases at referral stage.
	
		
			  Total referrals to pain clinic at Antrim area hospital 
		
		
			 2002 178 
			 2003 226 
			 2004 253 
			 2005 202

Antrim Area Hospital (Pain Clinic)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he plans to introduce to reduce out-patient waiting times for (a) priority and (b) routine appointments at the Pain Clinic, Antrim area hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: I recently announced a total redesign of the way in which out-patient services are delivered to ensure that, by March 2008, no patient will be waiting more than 13 weeks for their out-patient appointment following referral by their GP.
	Central to this will be the development of a new range of clinical assessment and diagnostic services—Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services (ICATS), provided in a variety of primary and secondary care settings. This will ensure that all patients are seen quickly by the most appropriate healthcare professional and will include a range of assessment, treatment, diagnostic and advisory services. Waiting times for pain management services will be addressed with the development of ICATS.

Children and Young People's Funding Package

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  when he will publish for consultation proposals for activities and programmes to be funded under the Children and Young People's funding package announced in Budget and Priorities 2006 to 2008;
	(2)  what plans he has to consult directly with (a) children, (b) young people, (c) their families and (d) the wider children's sector on the proposals for the Children and Young People's funding package;
	(3)  what equality impact assessment has been made of the Children and Young People's funding proposals;
	(4)  what dedicated funding will be made available from the Children and Young People's funding package for (a) children with disabilities, (b) black and minority ethnic children and (c) children with mental health needs;
	(5)  how the Children and Young People's funding package interacts with the overarching Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister's Children and Young People's Strategy;
	(6)  how he plans to deliver the Children and Young People's funding package; and what steps he will take to ensure that the voluntary and community sector are involved in the delivery process;
	(7)  what planning meetings have taken place in respect of Children and Young People's funding in the last 12 months; and which (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory bodies were involved in each meeting.

Angela Smith: The Children's and Young People's Funding Package will be published in the next few weeks. The detailed content of the package will be available then. The package will contain a range of provision to reduce underachievement and improve the life chances of children and young people by enhancing their educational development and fostering their health, well-being and social inclusion through the integrated delivery of the support and services necessary to ensure that every child has the best start in life.
	The various elements will be costed and the funding included in the baselines of the Departments which will deliver the elements concerned.
	Each element will be subject to appropriate consultation and to equality impact assessments. For the purposes of the package, high-level equality impact assessments (screening) have been conducted.
	The Children and Young People's Unit of the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister has been involved throughout to ensure that the package is consistent with the aims of the 10-year Children's Strategy.
	Delivery mechanisms for each element of the package will be taken forward separately by the Departments concerned, and each will take appropriate steps to ensure that the voluntary and community sectors are appropriately engaged in the development and delivery of that element.
	The Department of Education leads on the Children's and Young People's Funding Package. Planning meetings have been held since 12 October 2005, as follows:
	12 October: DE meeting with SoS Special Adviser.
	11 November: Department of Education, the Education and Training Inspectorate, the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Department of Finance and Personnel.
	24 November: Department of Education, the Education and Training Inspectorate, the Department of Social Development, the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Department of Finance and Personnel.
	6 December: Department of Education, SoS Special Adviser, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Department of Finance and Personnel.
	8 December: Department of Education with NI Children's Commissioner.
	12 December: Department of Education, SoS Special Adviser, Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, Department of Finance and Personnel.

Crime

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the recorded crime figures for (a) murder, (b) manslaughter, (c) grievous bodily harm, (d) assault, (e) burglary, (f) armed robbery, (g) riotous behaviour and (h) theft in Northern Ireland were in each of the last six years.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Member to the Chief Constable's Annual Reports which contain the information requested. These are available on the Police Service of Northern Ireland website at www.psni.police.uk.

Dentistry

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many anaesthetists were available to undertake treatments at the School of Dentistry, Royal Victoria hospital Belfast on the last date for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: There is currently one anaesthetist available for treatment at the School of Dentistry, Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

Dentistry

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dentists are undergoing special needs training in the School of Dentistry, Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

Shaun Woodward: The responsibility for and expertise in treating patients with special needs rests primarily with the Community Dental Services. Special needs dentistry is soon to become a recognised specialty, but as yet no Royal College Higher Training programme has been developed. In the interim, the eastern health and social services board, in collaboration with the School of Dentistry, has put in place plans to train eight further community dentists in oral surgery skills for special needs patients.

Dentistry

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many special needs patients are on the waiting list for dental treatment at the School of Dentistry, Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast (a) from each health board area and (b) in total.

Shaun Woodward: The (a) total and (b) numbers broken down by health board, of special needs patients on the waiting list for dental treatment at the school of Dentistry, Royal Victoria hospital, as at 27 January 2006 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 (b) Health board of residence Number waiting at 27 January 2006 
		
		
			 Eastern 209 
			 Northern 74 
			 Southern 16 
			 Western 4 
			 (a) NI total 303 
		
	
	Source:
	Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

Dentistry

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many specialist dentists are available to undertake special care treatment at the School of Dentistry, Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

Shaun Woodward: There is currently one specialist dentist who works two sessions per week for special needs treatment at the School of Dentistry, Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast.

Departmental Staff

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people work in each of the directorates within the Northern Ireland Office, broken down by (a) sex and (b) community background.

Shaun Woodward: The following table shows the composition of the Northern Ireland Office (excluding Agencies) as at 19 January 2006. Gender figures relate to the total Core Department, including NIO staff in London, while community background figures relate only to staff working in Northern Ireland.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Protestant 453 
			 Roman Catholic 155 
			 Not Determined 49 
			 Total 657 
			   
			 Male 335 
			 Female 405 
			 Total 740 
		
	
	The purpose for collecting this personal data is to enable the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Civil Service to monitor the effectiveness of their policies on equality of opportunity. Such monitoring is not undertaken or appropriate at the level of directorates, branches or offices.

Devolution

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on devolution in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: On 11 January, in a statement to the House, I made clear that this Government believes that 2006 can be the year for restoration of the Assembly and will work to that end as a matter of the utmost priority".
	Elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly are due in May 2007. In order that those elections are meaningful, we require an Assembly exercising its full responsibilities. The need for progress toward genuine political engagement is urgent.
	2006 can and must be a year of historic progress in Northern Ireland. It must be a year in which we see a fully inclusive, power-sharing Executive restored so that locally elected politicians can take the decisions that affect the everyday lives of the people of Northern Ireland.

Digital Hearing Aids

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients were awaiting the supply of new digital hearing aids in each of the health and social services board areas on the last date for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Information is currently available in respect of the northern and southern health and social services boards only. At 30 September 2005, there were 272 people in the northern health and social services board area, and 1,437 people in the southern health and social services board area, who were waiting for a digital hearing aid to be fitted.
	Information is not currently available in respect of the eastern and western health and social services boards. I will write to the hon. Member with the relevant information as soon as it is available and place a copy in the Library.

Digital Hearing Aids

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps have been taken to improve the provision of digital hearing aids in each of the health and social services board areas.

Shaun Woodward: Direct referral by a GP to an audiology clinic is being piloted in a number of health and social services trusts in order to reduce waiting times for those awaiting an assessment for a digital hearing aid.
	The Department is also considering the feasibility of implementing direct referrals to all health and social services trusts. However, any new proposals will be determined on the basis of what best meets the clinical requirements of individual patients.
	A departmental led group focussing on the modernisation of audiology services will be established in the near future, as part of a review of physical and sensory disability policy. This group will be tasked with making recommendations in respect of further improving current service provision and reducing waiting times.

Long-term Unemployment

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to encourage small businesses to recruit long-term unemployed people from disadvantaged communities; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Following the Taskforce Report on Employability and Long Term Unemployment, the Department for Employment and Learning created a number of targeted initiatives in the most disadvantaged areas (characterised by low employment and high social deprivation) of West Belfast, Greater Shankill, Londonderry (both Foyle and Waterside) and Strabane.
	The component parts of targeted initiatives are a stakeholders forum, employers forum, a transitional employment programme and job assist centres. As part of the Targeted Initiatives programme, employment liaison officers in the Department of Employment and Learning engage with employers to assist with employment issues and match long term unemployed clients with job opportunities.
	Invest NI may also include a condition, when offering assistance to larger client companies, setting a target to recruit a percentage of workers from programmes such as new deal and bridge to employment.

Meals on Wheels

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the level of meals on wheels service provision is in each of the Health and Social Services Board areas; and what the cost of such provision was in each of the board areas, in each of the past three years.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the cost of meals and numbers of meals provided 1 is shown in the table, for the position during the financial year 2003–04, the latest year for which such information is available. Information for previous years is not available on a comparable basis. The information is shown according to Health and Social Services Trust, as the analysis is not available by Board area. 2 The latest available information on number of recipients, shown in the table, is for the position at 31 March 2005.
	
		
			 Health and Social Services Trust Cost (£) (2003–04) Meals provided (2003–04) Recipients (31 March 2005) 
		
		
			 Craigavon and Banbridge 426,339 107,580 671 
			 Causeway 37,643 20,358 122 
			 Down Lisburn 133,941 61,920 415 
			 Foyle 51,494 23,720 530 
			 Homefirst 465,337 186,441 1,332 
			 Newry and Mourne 269,006 98,617 292 
			 North and West Belfast 549,607 202,936 731 
			 South and East Belfast 856,843 254,251 978 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 265,138 97,737 651 
			 Ulster 359,149 144,082 562 
			 Northern Ireland Total 3,414,497 1,197,642 6,284 
		
	
	(27) Information relates to all meals provided, including frozen meals (cook/chill meals service), and not only to meals on wheels. Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust does not provide a meals service of this kind.
	(28) Information is not available by Board area, as the information is collected according to Trust. Some Trusts may provide a meals service to recipients outside their area.

Mobile Phone Tracking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether technology is available to the Police Service of Northern Ireland to allow it to use mobile phone tracking to pursue investigations into (a) missing persons and (b) missing persons believed to be underwater.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland utilises the same technology as is available in the rest of the United Kingdom. Its use is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).
	Section 4.1 of the RIPA Codes of Practice for Communications outlines special rules for matters of public interest in relations to deaths, serious injuries and vulnerable persons allowing police to obtain billing, incoming call data and cell site analysis. In 'life at risk' cases, this can be done immediately. Results will depend on the network coverage in the area, whether the phone is switched off or on and the technology available to each individual service provider.
	With regard to a missing person underwater, the same technology can be applied as outlined above. Its effectiveness would depend on whether the mobile phone had been rendered inoperable by immersion in water.

Physiotherapy

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were on waiting lists for physiotherapy treatment in each of the health board areas on the last date for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of people on waiting lists for physiotherapy treatment is not collected centrally. However, information is collected centrally on completed waiting times for a first out-patient appointment of an episode of care with a community physiotherapist. The total number of persons attending their first out-patient appointment, and their waiting times are shown in the following table. The table contains information for the quarter ending 30 September 2005 (the latest date for which such information is available). Of the 18,373 persons who attended their first out-patient appointment, 3,143 (17 per cent.) had waited for between three and six months and a further 1,157 (6 per cent.) had waited for six months or more.
	
		
			   Time waiting 
			 Board area Patients attending first appointment Less than 3 months 3–6 months 6 months or over 
		
		
			 Eastern 6,857 5,711 905 241 
			 Southern 4,680 3,487 759 434 
			 Western 3,243 2,096 1,015 132 
			 Northern 3,593 2,779 464 350 
			 Total 18,373 14,073 3,143 1,157

Physiotherapy

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the possible impact of the cancellation of the physiotherapy degree course for 2005–06 at the University of Ulster on physiotherapy waiting lists in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Entry to the Physiotherapy degree course at the University of Ulster is being deferred for the academic year 2006–07. This decision is part of a phased move to change the duration of the course from four years to three years, which is in line with courses in England, Wales and Scotland. Plans have been put in place to ensure that there will be no year without a supply of graduates available for employment in the Health and Personal Social Services.

Police Officers (Criminal Convictions)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police officers serving in the Police Service of Northern Ireland have criminal convictions broken down by rank; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: At present 200 officers remain in the PSNI with convictions. The breakdown by rank is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Sergeant 19 
			 Constable 148 
			 Reserve officer full-time 28 
			 Reserve officer part-time 5 
		
	
	The majority of the offences concerned are traffic offences. People with serious criminal or terrorist backgrounds are not considered suitable to serve in the police service.

Prisoners (Nationality)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of (a) female and (b) male prisoners in Northern Ireland are citizens of the Irish Republic;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1588W, on Male Prisoners (Nationality), whether the statistics provided omit prisoners of Irish nationality; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Upon committal each prisoner is required to record whether they are from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland or Other (another country).
	However, as the Belfast Agreement recognises the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, it is not possible to state definitively how many prisoners have Irish nationality".
	Nationality details provided in my answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1588W, refer only to those who stated their nationality was other".

Sexual Health

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many girls in Northern Ireland aged (a) 16, (b) 15, (c) 14 and (d) 13 years have been given (i) oral contraception and (ii) contraceptive implants on the NHS in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available.

Sexual Health

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how funding has been allocated through the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy 2002–07; and how the allocated money has been spent by (a) the Department and (b) boards in preparation for the final publication of the Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan.

Shaun Woodward: In 2002–03 the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety allocated £300,000 to voluntary and community organisations for projects dealing with issues around teenage pregnancy. In addition, the Department allocated funding to health and social services boards, on a capitation basis, to take forward work on the Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy and Action Plan as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2003–04 400,000 
			 2004–05 300,000 
			 2005–06 400,000 
		
	
	Boards spent the allocated funding on a range of programmes and initiatives which can broadly be grouped under the headings of public information/awareness, education, training, services and support. Examples include leaflets and tool kits, parenting and craft classes, promotional materials, young mums' clinics, family planning and women's aid.
	The Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan is the subject of separate funding arrangements. In 2005–06, a total of £325,000 was allocated to boards for work on sexual health promotion.

Single Equality Bill

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on (a) the status of and (b) results of consultation upon the Single Equality Bill.

Angela Smith: A summary of the responses to the consultation on the Single Equality Bill, which ended in November 2004, was published in March 2005.
	Having met with political parties over the summer, work is on-going and is being fully informed by all the responses received.

Speech Therapy

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were on waiting lists for speech therapy in each of the (a) health boards and (b) education and library boards on the last date for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Children with speech and language therapy requirements, as part of their Statements of Special Educational Needs, are referred to the Health and Social Services Trusts for therapeutic provision. Education and Library Boards do not separately keep waiting lists for this provision.
	Information on the number of people awaiting speech therapy assessment in Health and Social Services Boards is not collected centrally. However, information is collected centrally on completed waiting times for a first out-patient appointment of an episode of care with a community speech and language therapist. The following table contains information for the quarter ending 30 September 2005 (the latest date for which such information is available) and shows that, of the 2,939 persons who attended their first out-patient appointment, 638 (22 per cent.) had waited for between three and six months, and a further 119 (4 per cent.) had waited for six months or more.
	
		
			   Time waiting 
			 Board area Patients attending first appointment Less than three months Three to six months Six months or over 
		
		
			 Eastern 1,040 799 204 37 
			 Southern 656 371 255 30 
			 Western 502 413 79 10 
			 Northern 741 599 100 42 
			 Total 2,939 2,182 638 119

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the statutory instruments introduced by his Department since 6 May 2005.

Peter Hain: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Statutory Instruments
		
			 The Northern Ireland Office 
			 Reference Title 
		
		
			 2005 No 109 The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (Commencement No. 8) Order 2005 (No. 109) 
			 May 2005 No 203 The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Retrial for Serious Offences) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (No. 203) 
			 2005 No 242 The Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Commencement No 2) Order 2005 
			 2005 No 243 The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2005 (No. 243) 
			 May 2005 No 281 The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (Commencement No 9 and Transitional provisions) Order 2005 
			 2005  No 282 The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2005 
			 2005  No. 382 The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 (Commencement No. l) Order 2005 
			 2005 No. 432 The Probation Board for Northern Ireland Victim Information Scheme 2005 
			 July 2005 No 1966 (NI 16) The Firearms (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 July 2005 No 1969 The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2005 
			 August 2005 No 239 The Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2005 (No. 239) 
			 August 2005 No 341 Police Service of Northern Ireland (Complaints etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 
			 September 2005 No 2558 Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 (Specified Organisations) Order 2005 
			 December 2005 No 504 The Prisoner Victim Information (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Scheme 2005 
			 January 2006 No 547 Police Service of Northern Ireland Regulations 
		
	
	
		The Northern Ireland Departments (Northern Ireland Administration)
		
			 Date Title 
		
		
			 7 June 2005 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland ) Order 2005 
			 7 June 2005 Drainage (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 7 June 2005 Company Directors Disqualification (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 7 June 2005 Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 19 July 2005 Unauthorised Encampments (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 19 July 2005 Budget (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 19 July 2005 Colleges of Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 19 July 2005 Traffic Management (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 19 July 2005 Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 19 July 2005 Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 14 December 2005 Legal Aid (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
			 14 December 2005 Employment ( Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 
		
	
	
		Draft Orders in Council laid (or about to be laid) but not yet made
		
			 Date Title 
		
		
			 21 November 2005 Safety at Sports Grounds (Northern Ireland) Order 
			 14 November 2005 Industrial and Provident Societies (Northern Ireland) Order 
			 7 December 2005 Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 
			 23 January 2006 Stormont Estate (Northern Ireland) Order 
			 About to be laid Rates (Capital Values etc) (Northern Ireland) Order 
			 About to be laid Budget (Northern Ireland) Order

Suspicious Deaths

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suspicious deaths have occurred in Northern Ireland over each of the last seven years; and in how many such cases nobody has been found guilty.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland have advised that their interpretation of 'suspicious death' is murder and manslaughter. I would refer the hon. Member to the Chief Constable's Annual Reports, which contain statistics for these offences along with details of clearance rates. These reports are available on the PSNI website www.psni.police.uk

Waiting Times

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what initiatives have been introduced to reduce waiting times for out-patient appointments across health and personal social services.

Shaun Woodward: I recently announced a total redesign of the way in which out-patient services are delivered to ensure that, by March 2008, no patient will be waiting more than 13 weeks for their out-patient appointment following referral by their GP.
	Central to this will be the development of a new range of clinical assessment and diagnostic services—Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services (ICATS), provided in a variety of primary and secondary care settings. This will ensure that all patients are seen quickly by the most appropriate healthcare professional and will include a range of assessment, treatment, diagnostic and advisory services. A new Electronic Referrals Management System is being established to support ICATS and to ensure that patients have a central point of contact and will be informed of the next step in their treatment within five days of being referred by a GP.
	The way in which out-patient waiting lists are managed and monitored is also being improved. Partial booking systems are already being implemented in all out-patient specialties and Out-patient Improvement Managers are being put in place in all trusts to ensure that services are more responsive to patients' needs.

Water Supply

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many households in Northern Ireland are not connected to the mains water supply, broken down by constituency.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 30 January 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many households in Northern Ireland are not connected to the mains water supply, broken down by constituency (45482). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	It is estimated that less than 1 per cent. of households in Northern Ireland are not connected to the public water supply. Water Service does not, at present, have a database of all household customers connected to mains water and cannot therefore supply the information on a constituency basis. However, a comprehensive customer database is currently being developed in preparation for the proposed introduction of domestic charging from April 2007 and this will identify any households not connected to the public water supply.

Water Supply

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the cost of completing the connection of all households in Northern Ireland to the mains water supply.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 30 January 2006
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question if he will estimate the cost of completing the connection of all households in Northern Ireland to the mains water supply (45483). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	It is estimated that less than 1 per cent. of households in Northern Ireland are currently not served by the public water supply and connecting all these, wholly at the public expense, could cost up to £20 million.
	While Water Service currently has a duty to provide water services, it is not required to do anything which is not practicable at a reasonable cost. For this reason, Water Service has always operated a policy of reasonable cost allowances for the purpose of determining whether applications for first time services can be fully met at public expense. The allowances for watermain schemes are £5,000 for properties, which were occupied and on which rates were being paid on or before 31 May 2000, and £2,900 for other properties. The higher reasonable cost allowance for existing properties not connected to the public watermain reflects the importance attached to reducing the number of such properties. The policy provides Water Service with an objective mechanism to consider applications for new water services in a consistent and equitable manner. The policy seeks to strike a balance between the interests of householders and taxpayers, within the context of resources made available for water services.
	Where the cost of providing a first-time service exceeds the total reasonable cost allowance. Water Service will proceed with the scheme if he householders who will benefit from the scheme agree to meet the balance.

TREASURY

Basic Bank Accounts

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have taken up basic bank accounts in the UK since they were introduced; and what percentage of all UK personal bank accounts are basic bank accounts.

Ivan Lewis: The Government does not collect data on the numbers of basic bank accounts. The latest data from the British Bankers Association show that between April 2003 and September 2005, a net total of 1.52 million basic bank accounts were opened (1.96 million opened and 0.44 million closed). Over the same period, a net total of 6 million accounts that offer withdrawals on demand were opened so 25 per cent. of all accounts offering withdrawal on demand opened between April 2003 and September 2005 were basic bank accounts.

Bio-fuel Discounts

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the legal basis is for HM Revenue and Customs' policy of restricting bio-fuel discounts to producers who use transesterification processes for production.

John Healey: Fuel produced from vegetable oil is eligible for the rate of duty for biodiesel (currently 27.10 pence per litre) if it meets the legal definition of biodiesel for tax purposes set out in section 2AA of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979. In other cases, it is liable to duty at the main road fuel rate, currently at 47.10 pence per litre, as has been the case since Royal Assent to the Finance Act 2002.

Capital Gains Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a domestic property that pays business rates, in addition to council tax, due to a householder working at home, may be liable for capital gains tax on sale of the property.

Dawn Primarolo: Business rates, council tax and capital gains tax liabilities are assessed on different criteria. Gains made on the disposal of a main home are generally exempt from capital gains tax. Full relief may also be available where partial business use has been made of a property, depending on the facts of the individual case.

Christmas Cards

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to his Department of sending Christmas cards in 2005.

John Healey: The cost to the Treasury of purchasing official Christmas cards for Christmas 2005 was £7,532 plus VAT, including envelopes. The Treasury purchases its Christmas cards from the charity Card Aid, who will make a donation of £2,126 from the cost of 2005 cards to the Disasters Emergency Committee on behalf of the Treasury. Information on the cost of posting Christmas cards is not available. All expenditure incurred on official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the principle of propriety set out in Government Accounting.

Cole Layer Trumble

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with the company, Cole Layer Trumble, or their representatives, in the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: So far as I am aware, no meetings involving Treasury Ministers or officials have been held with Cole Layer Trumble or their representatives. Staff of the Valuation Office Agency, an Executive Agency of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, have had regular liaison with representatives of Cole Layer Trumble during development of the Agency's Automated Valuation Model (AVM).

Data Protection Act

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the types of data (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the Valuation Office Agency is permitted to hold under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Dawn Primarolo: The types of data that HMRC and the Valuation Office Agency hold and process under the provisions of the Data Protection Act are detailed in their notification to the Information Commissioner. This is on the Information Commissioner's public register held on his website under registration number Z9034158.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from Treasury buildings in the past 12 months.

John Healey: Three laptop computers were reported as stolen during 2005.

EU Budget

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated (a) net and (b) gross contribution to the EU to be paid by the UK will be in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010 following decisions at the recent summit.

Michael Gove: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of (a) the UK's gross contribution to the EU including overseas aid spending, (b) the UK abatement, (c) UK receipts of EU spending and (d) the UK net contribution to the EU budget will be in constant pound terms in each year from 2007 to 2013 under the recently agreed budget.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 9 January 2006
	Based on the European Commission's forecasts and assumptions, and using the Financial Perspective table agreed on 17 December 2005, Treasury estimates for the UK's gross contribution to the EC budget, the abatement, UK receipts and the UK net contribution to the EC budget are:
	
		
			 £ billion 2004 prices (payments) 
			  Gross contribution before abatement Abatement Receipts Net contribution 
		
		
			 2007 -14.2 3.9 5.6 -4.7 
			 2008 -14.6 4.6 / 4.7 5.2 -4.6 / -4.7 
			 2009 -13.7 4.8 / 4.9 4.2 -4.6 / -4.7 
			 2010 -14.4 3.8 / 3.9 4.6 -6.0 / -6.1 
			 2011–13 -14.1 / -14.5 3.5 / 4.1 4.2 -6.0 / -6.8 
		
	
	As the Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on 19 December, while the UK's net contribution will rise over the next financing period compared to 2000–06, France and Italy's contribution will rise twice as fast. The abatement will also rise, not fall.
	The UK's actual financing share, receipts and abatement are all dependent on a number of variables, including the actual rate of spending in each policy area in each member state, and the pound-euro exchange rate.

EU Budget

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the (a) net and (b) gross contributions France will make to the European Union during the next budget cycle;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the (a) gross and (b) net contributions per head of population for each household in the United Kingdom to the European Union during the next budget cycle.

Ivan Lewis: Based on the European Commission's forecasts and assumptions, and using the Financial Perspective table agreed on 17 December 2005, Treasury estimates for France and the UK's net and gross contributions to the EC budget are:
	
		2004 prices (payments)
		
			  Total (€ billion) Per capita (€) 
			 2007–13 Gross contribution after abatement Net contribution Gross contribution after abatement Net contribution 
		
		
			 France -135.2 / -134.9 -48.7 / -48.3 -2,242 / -2,236 -808 / -801 
			 UK -102.6 / -104.0 -56.1 / -57.5 -1,702 / -1,725 -930 / -954 
		
	
	The UK's actual financing share, receipts and abatement are all dependent on a number of variables, including the actual rate of spending in each policy area in each member state, and the pound-euro exchange rate.

EU Budget

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to enable the House to vote on a motion to approve the recently agreed changes in the UK rebate from the EU budget.

Ivan Lewis: The changes to the financing of the EC budget agreed at the December European Council, including the change to the application of the UK abatement in respect of expenditure in the new member states of the European Union, will be incorporated in a new EU 'own resources decision'. This decision will in due course require ratification by each member state. In the UK this will be by means of a European Communities (Finance) Bill, which will be primary legislation subject to the usual procedures and will be brought forward as parliamentary time allows.

European Commissioner for Trade

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what dates he has held meetings with the European Commissioner for Trade since October 2004;
	(2)  what telephone conversations he has held with the European Commissioner for Trade since October 2004.

Ivan Lewis: Treasury Ministers and officials have conversations and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals as part of the process of policy development, analysis and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of every such discussion.

European Court of Justice

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Court of Justice's preliminary rulings on the acts referred to in Article 35 of the Treaty on European Union, as referred to in Official Journal L327 of 14 December 2005.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	Article 35 of the Treaty on European Union (within Title VI of that Treaty, on Police and Judicial Co-operation in Criminal Matters) provides that the European Court of Justice may have jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on certain questions referred to it by domestic courts in the member states. Member states can choose whether or not to accept such jurisdiction by declaration.
	The notice in the Official Journal to which the hon. Member refers lists those member states which have made such a declaration. The United Kingdom has not made such a declaration.

Financial Services Authority

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff have been employed by the Financial Services Authority in each year since its creation.

Ivan Lewis: This is an operational matter for the FSA. I understand that the Chairman of the FSA will write to the hon. Member directly.

Financial Services Authority

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the service offered by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to professionals seeking guidance and interpretation of FSA rules and guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The matters raised in this question are the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government control and influence.
	However, as part of the Treasury's Two-Year Review of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), the FSA has improved its provision of advice and guidance. The FSA Contact Centre remit has been extended to cover large firms in addition to consumers and small firms. All calls and correspondence received through the Contact Centres are subject to revised service standards with tracking and delivery mechanisms to ensure that these standards are delivered consistently. Finally, public reporting against all service standards is moving to a bi-annual basis.

Financial Services Authority

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the authorisation procedure operated by the Financial Services Authority for the authorisation of (a) individuals and (b) institutions to offer financial advice; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have made no such assessment. This is an operational matter for the FSA, and its authorisation procedure is published on its website at www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/doing/how/index.shtml.

Financial Services Authority

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications from (a) individuals and (b) institutions for authorisation to issue financial advice have been received by the Financial Services Authority in each year since its creation; and how many in each category were successful.

Ivan Lewis: This is an operational matter for the FSA. The Chairman of the FSA will write to the hon. Member directly.

Financial Services Authority

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes the Financial Services Authority plans to make to the fees it levies; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This is an operational matter for the FSA. I understand that the chairman of the FSA will write to the hon. Member directly.

Financial Services Authority

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the Financial Services Authority budget was spent on (a) financial capability and (b) staff entertainment in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002, (iii) 2003 and (iv) 2004.

Ivan Lewis: This is an operational matter for the FSA. I understand that the Chairman of the FSA will shortly write to the hon. Member directly about this matter.

Financial Services Authority

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Financial Services Authority has raised through fines of financial services companies in each year since its inception.

Ivan Lewis: This is an operational matter for the FSA. I understand that the Chairman of the FSA will shortly write to the hon. Member directly about this matter.

Financial Services Authority

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Financial Services Authority spent on engagement with (a) local councils and (b) devolved administrations in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: This is an operational matter for the FSA. I understand that the Chairman of the FSA will shortly write to the hon. Member directly about this matter.

HM Revenue and Customs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of staff required to provide a walk-in service for HM Revenue and Customs on the Isle of Wight following the proposed closure of the Newport office.

Dawn Primarolo: The lease at 33 St. James Street, Newport, Isle of Wight will expire on 24 March 2006, although HMRC occupation of the building has been extended until 31 May 2006.
	HMRC will continue to provide a face-to-face service for its customers on the Isle of Wight and new premises are being sought for the Enquiry Centre. The Isle of Wight Enquiry Centre is currently staffed by the equivalent of 6.68 full-time staff; there are no plans to change the level of staffing.

Identity Theft

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to change HM Revenue and Customs computer systems to prevent identity theft; and what discussions he has had with other Departments about any implications of the threat of identity theft for (a) existing computerised systems and (b) systems being developed.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC are planning to place stronger and more consistent controls on how a claimant can change their identity details on departmental systems. This includes better methods of authentication when customers contact HMRC.
	HMRC are working with DWP to seek common standards of identity authentication.
	As set out in my statement of 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 41WS, I met with the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) and the banking industry on 23 January to discuss the application of the Government's identity fraud strategy.

Inheritance Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the role of the Valuation Office Agency is in the assessment of inheritance tax.

Dawn Primarolo: The Valuation Office Agency provides valuation advice to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs through its District Valuer Services business stream. This covers the provision of valuations of land, buildings, lordships of the manor, growing crops, live and dead farming stock, plant, machinery and fixtures, which are required for the assessment of inheritance tax. At the request of HMRC the VOA also undertakes negotiations with taxpayers or their agents to resolve any differences of opinion on valuation matters.

Insolvency

Peter Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list individuals and corporate entities who (a) have been and (b) will be granted exemption prior to the issuance of any Lloyds market reorganisation order under the provisions of Statutory Instrument 2005, No. 1998, on insolvency.

Ivan Lewis: A court can make a Lloyd's Market Reorganisation Order upon application by the Society of Lloyd's or the FSA or both. The reorganisation order will specify the persons to which it will apply. It will be a matter for the courts to decide who should be excluded from the order. The court can consider applications for exclusion of particular assets or particular persons at the time of the original application or at any time subsequently.

Master Netting Agreement

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the administration of the master netting agreement of the European Central Bank, with particular reference to potential obligations on the UK Government's maintenance of current practice with regard to European Central Bank's Guideline ECB/2005/15 as expressed in OJ L345 vol. 48 of 8 December 2005.

Ivan Lewis: ECB Guideline ECB/2000/1, which has now been amended by Guideline ECB/2005/15, is addressed to the national central banks of the member states that have adopted the euro in accordance with the treaty. The application of the guidelines and of the master netting agreements is a matter for them and their counterparties.

Ministerial Visits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits abroad the Paymaster General has made in relation to the Treasury interest in child care policy since 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: None personally, but Treasury officials maintain strong links with officials from overseas who work on child care policy issues.

National Insurance

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the revenue from national insurance contributions was in each year from 2003–04; what the estimate is for 2006–07; and what assessment he has made of the impact on revenue of the National Insurance Contributions Act 2002 in respect of NHS employers' contributions being calculated as a percentage of all earnings.

Dawn Primarolo: National insurance contribution receipts are published in Table PSF6 of Public Sector Finances. A link to the most recent publication is given as follows.
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/psf0106.pdf.
	Estimates of receipts in 2005–06 and 2006–07 were published in Table B14 of the December 2005 pre-Budget report. A link is given as follows.
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/FA6/58/pbr05_annexB_246.pdf.
	Estimates of national health service secondary (employers') national insurance contributions for Great Britain in 2002–03 and 2003–04 are given in Appendix 6 of the Government Actuary's Report on the Up-rating and Re-rating orders, 2003. http://www.gad.gov.uk/Publications/docs/2003uprating.pdf.

National Lottery

Robert Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to allow 100 per cent. of proceeds from the national lottery to go directly to good causes.

John Healey: The taxation of the lottery is a principle that has been accepted by Parliament since the lottery was established in 1994. The lottery is a mainstream gambling activity and should, like other gambling activities, make a contribution to revenues for the funding of essential public services.

Payment Protection Insurance

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date his officials last met the (a) Financial Services Authority and (b) Office of Fair Trading to discuss their payment protection insurance inquiries.

Ivan Lewis: HM Treasury officials meet a wide range of organisations, including the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), as part of the process of policy development and analysis. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA), the FSA is an independent body that regulates financial services in the UK. The Enterprise Act 2002 established the OFT as an independent authority, and as such it is for the OFT to enforce competition law and to investigate markets that may not be working well for consumers.

QinetiQ

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss to the Treasury of the Carlyle share of QinetiQ; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Government believe that it has achieved value from its sale of a minority stake in QinetiQ to its strategic partner, the Carlyle Group.

Self-invested Personal Pension

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared on his decision to withdraw the right to hold residential property in a self-invested personal pension.

Ivan Lewis: A Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) covering all additional legislative changes on Pension Simplification announced since April 2004 will be published alongside the Finance Bill 2006.

Stakeholder Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average tax relief will be for stakeholder pensions following implementation of the Finance Act 2004; and what the rate was in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: We do not hold information on the average rate of tax relief for stakeholder pensions. But contributions to stakeholder pensions are tax relieved at the contributor's marginal rate of income tax and this will continue to be the position after the implementation of the Finance Act 2004.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the statutory instruments introduced by his Department since 6 May 2005.

John Healey: The information requested in respect of the Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs is as follows:
	
		
			   Statutory instruments 
		
		
			 HM Treasury   
			 2005 1433 Prospectus Regulations 
			 2005 1479 Recovery of Taxes etc. Due in Other Member States (Amendment of Section 134 of the Finance Act 2002) Regulations 
			 2005 1480 Tonnage Tax (Exception of Financial Year 2005) Order 
			 2005 1518 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 1525 Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001 (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1526 Burma (Financial Sanctions) Regulations 
			 2005 1527 International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (Financial Sanctions Against Indictees) Regulations 
			 2005 1529 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 
			 2005 1532 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes) (Exemptions) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1538 Lloyd's Sourcebook (Amendment of the Finance Act 1993 and the Finance Act 1994) Order 
			 2005 1539 Reporting of Savings Income Information (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1634 Stamp Duty (Consequential Amendment of Enactments) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 
			 2005 1644 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Administration Orders Relating to Insurers) (Northern Ireland) Order 
			 2005 1709 Recovery of Duties and Taxes Etc. Due in Other Member States (Corresponding UK Claims, Procedure and Supplementary) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1713 Finance Act 2003, sections 189 and 190, (Appointed Day) Order 
			 2005 1714 Climate Change Levy (Combined Heat and Power Stations) Regulations 
			 2005 1715 Climate Change Levy (Fuel Use and Recycling Processes) Regulations 
			 2005 1724 Value Added Tax (Disclosure of Avoidance Schemes) (Designations) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1978 Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) Order 
			 2005 1990 Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (Extension of Exceptions relating to Recognised Exchanges) Regulations 
			 2005 1993 Value Added Tax (Refund of Tax to Museums and Galleries) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1996 Registration of Civil Partnerships (Fees) Order 
			 2005 1997 Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Fees) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 1998 Insurers (Reorganisation and Winding Up) (Lloyd's) Regulations 
			 2005 2000 Civil Partnership (Amendments to Registration Provisions) Order 
			 2005 2005 Friendly Societies (Modification of the Corporation Tax Acts) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2007 Finance Act 2002, Section 117 (Day Appointed for Cessation of Effect) Order 
			 2005 2010 Finance (No.2) Act 2005, section 6 (Appointed Day and Savings Provisions) 
			 2005 2012 Loan Relationships and Derivative Contracts (Disregard and Bringing into Account of Profits and Losses) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2013 Exchange Gains and Losses (Bringing into Account Gains or Losses) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2014 Friendly Societies (Modification of the Corporation Tax Acts) Regulations 
			 2005 2082 Finance Act 2002, Schedule 26, Parts 2 and 9 (Amendment No.2) Order 
			 2005 2209 Income Tax (Car Benefits) (Reduction of Value of Appropriate Percentage) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2210 Friendly Societies (Accounts and Related Provisions) (Amendment) 
			 2005 2211 Friendly Societies Act 1992 (International Accounting Standards and Other Accounting Amendments) Order 
			 2005 2422 Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No.5) Regulations 
			 2005 2423 Capital Allowances (Environmentally Beneficial Plant and Machinery) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 2424 Capital Allowances (Energy-saving Plant and Machinery) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 2561 Individual Savings Account (Amendment No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 2562 Personal Equity Plan (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2899 Exemption From Income Tax For Certain Interest and Royalty Payments (Amendment to Section 97(1) of the Finance Act 2004 and Section 757(2) of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005) Order 
			 2005 2919 Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Tax Credits, etc.) (Consequential Amendments) 
			 2005 2967 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Consequential Amendments) Order 
			 2005 3071 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Disclosure of Confidential Information) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3130 Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No.6) Regulations 
			 2005 3131 Social Security Contributions (Intermediaries) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3132 Social Security Contributions (Intermediaries) (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3133 Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3134 Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 
			 2005 3167 Registration of Civil Partnerships (Fees) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 3168 Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) Regulations 
			 2005 3174 Reporting of Suspicious Civil Partnerships Regulations 
			 2005 3176 Civil Partnership (Registration Provisions) Regulations 
			 2005 3177 Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3203 Cash Ratio Deposits (Eligible Liabilities) (Amendment) Order 
			 2005 3229 Tax and Civil Partnership Regulations 
			 2005 3230 Tax and Civil Partnership (No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 3289 General Insurance Reserves (Tax) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3291 Value Added Tax (Input Tax) (Person Supplied) Order 
			 2005 3311 Revenue and Customs (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 
			 2005 3327 Income Tax (Indexation) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 3328 Value Added Tax (Betting, Gaming and Lotteries) Order 
			 2005 3329 Value Added Tax (Reduced Rate) (No.2) Order 
			 2005 3330 Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) (Amendment) 
			 2005 3337 Finance (No.2) Act 2005, Section 45, (Appointed Day) Order 
			 2005 3348 Personal Equity Plan (Amendment No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 3349 Child Trust Funds (Amendment No.3) Regulations 
			 2005 3350 Individual Savings Account (Amendment No.3) Regulations 
			 2005 3374 Loan Relationships and Derivative Contracts (Disregard and Bringing into Account of Profits and Losses) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 
			 2005 3375 Overseas Life Insurance Companies (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3376 Research and Development Tax Relief (Definition of Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise") Order 
			 2005 3383 Loan Relationships and Derivative Contracts (Change of Accounting Practice) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3392 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) (Amendment) 
			 2005 3422 Loan Relationship and Derivative Contracts (Exchange Gains and Losses using Fair Value Accounting) Regulations 
			 2005 3440 Finance Act 2002, Schedule 26 (Parts 2 and 9) (Amendment No.3) Order 
			 2005 3465 Insurance Companies (Corporation Tax Acts) (Amendment) Order 
			 2006 5 The Public Contracts Regulations 
			 2006 6 The Utilities Regulations 
			 2006 50 The Financial Markets (Settlement Finality) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2006 58 The FSMA 2000 (Designated Professional Bodies) (Amendment) Order 
			 2006 59 The Climate Change Agreements (Energy-intensive) Installations 2006 
			 2006 127 The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2006 139 The Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (Extensions of Exceptions to Recognised 
			 2006 144 The Duty Stamps (Amendment of Paragraph 1 (3) of Schedule 2 A to the Alcoholic Duties Act 1979 Order 2006 
			 2006 184 The Taxation of Chargeable Gains (Gilt-Edged Securities) Order 
			 HM Revenue and Customs   
			 2005 1449 Tonnage Tax (Further Opportunity for Election) Order 
			 2005 1523 Finance Act 1995 (Denatured Alcohol) (Appointed Day and Savings) Order 
			 2005 1524 Denatured Alcohol Regulations 
			 2005 1716 Climate Change Levy (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 
			 2005 1727 Gaming Duty (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1868 Stamp Duty Land Tax Avoidance Schemes (Prescribed Descriptions of Arrangements) Regulations 
			 2005 1869 Tax Avoidance Schemes (Information) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 1907 Pension Protection Fund (Tax) (2005–06) Regulations 
			 2005 1979 Excise Duties (Road Fuel Gas) (Reliefs) Regulations 
			 2005 2009 Value Added Tax (Disclosure of Avoidance Schemes) (Amendment) 
			 2005 2017 Partnerships (Restrictions on Contributions to a Trade) Regulations 
			 2005 2045 Income Tax (Construction Industry Scheme) Regulations 
			 2005 2200 Tax Credit (Payment by Employers, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2231 Value Added Tax (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 
			 2005 2462 Taxes (Interest Rate) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2691 Income Tax (Pay as You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 2790 Donations to charity by individuals (Appropriate Declarations) (Amendment)Regulations 
			 2005 3290 Value Added Tax (Input Tax) (Reimbursement by Employers of Employees' Business Use of Road Fuel) Regulations 
			 2005 3320 Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (Reliefs for Electricity Generation) Regulations 
			 2005 3338 Lloyd's Underwriters (Tax) Regulations 
			 2005 3371 Statistics of Trade (Customs and Excise) (Amendment) Regulations 
			 2005 3441 Inheritance Tax (Double Charges Relief) Regulations 
			 2005 3448 Registered Pension Schemes (Relief at Source) Regulations 
			 2005 3449 Registered Pension Schemes (Prescribed Interest Rates for Authorised Employer Loans) Regulations 
			 2005 3450 Registered Pension Schemes (Minimum Contributions) Regulations 
			 2005 3451 Registered Pension Schemes (Prescribed Schemes and Occupations) 
			 2005 3452 Registered Pension Schemes (Discharge of Liabilities under Sections 267 and 268 of the Finance Act 2004) Regulations 
			 2005 3453 Employer-Financed Retirement Benefits Schemes (Provision of Information) Regulations 
			 2005 3454 Registered Pension Schemes (Accounting and Assessment) Regulations 
			 2005 3455 Registered Pension Schemes and Employer-Financed Retirement Benefits Schemes (Information) (Prescribed Descriptions of Persons) Regulations 
			 2005 3456 Registered Pension Schemes (Audited Accounts) (Specified Persons) 
			 2005 3457 Taxes Management Act 1970 (Modifications to Schedule 3 for Pension Scheme Appeals) Order 
			 2005 3458 Registered Pension Schemes (Restriction of Employers' Relief) Regulations 
			 2005 3472 Hydrocarbon Oil (Registered Remote Markers) Regulations 
			 2005 3474 Income Tax (Building Societies) (Dividends and Interest) (Amendment) 
			 2006 111 Lloyd's Underwriters (Conversion to Limited Liability Underwriting) (Tax) 
			 2006 112 Lloyd's Underwriters (Scottish Limited Partnerships) (Tax) (Amendment) 
			 2006 129 Registered Pension Schemes (Relevant Annuities) 
			 2006 130 Registered Pension Schemes (Uprating Percentages for Defined Benefit Arrangements and Enhanced Protection Limits) 
			 2006 131 Registered Pension Schemes (Enhanced Lifetime Allowances) 
			 2006 132 Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Excluded Benefits for Tax Purposes) 
			 2006 133 Registered Pension Schemes (Co-ownership of Living Accommodation) 
			 2006 134 Registered Pension Schemes (Authorised Payments) (Transfers to the Pension Protection Fund) 
			 2006 135 Registered Pension Schemes (Meaning of Pension Commencement Lump Sum) 
			 2006 136 Pension Benefits (Insurance Company Liable as Scheme Administrator) 
			 2006 137 Registered Pension Schemes (Authorised Member Payments) 
			 2006 138 Pension Schemes (Reduction in Pension Rates)

Tax Arrears

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1735W, on tax arrears, in how many cases over the last two years where a review has been notified to a taxpayer and it subsequently resulted in a bill to the taxpayer, interest has not been levied; what proportion of such cases that represented; and for what reasons the interest was not levied.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, normally where an adjustment has been made to an assessment of tax, the interest follows automatically, and is calculated and charged by the computer systems of HM Revenue and Customs.

Tax Arrears

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1735W, on tax arrears, if he will make it his policy to notify the taxpayer (a) that interest will be charged, (b) of the date it is to be levied from and (c) the interest rate, at the time the review is notified; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Whenever an enquiry is opened into a tax return, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) sends the taxpayer a code of practice with the opening letter. The code of practice says that
	interest will be charged from the original due date on any tax paid after that date. This includes additional amounts as a result of our enquiry."
	Rates of interest are available from the HMRC internet website: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/interest.htm or from any HMRC local office.

Tax Arrears

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1735W, on tax arrears, what (a) the longest and (b) the average period was between the date interest was charged from and the date the review was made known to the taxpayer in relation to (i) businesses and (ii) individual taxpayers in the last period for which figures are available; and what the amount of interest charged for the period was in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Tax Arrears

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2006, Official Report, column 1735W, on tax arrears, whether the rate of interest charged is the same in every case; how it is determined; and what the rate is.

Dawn Primarolo: The rates of interest are laid down by statutory formulae. The rates are available on the internet website of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC): http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rates/interest.htm or from any HMRC local office.

Tax Credits

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland were in receipt of (i) less than £1,000, (ii) between £1,000 and £2,500, (iii) between £2,500 and £5,000, (iv) between £5,000 and £10,000, (v) between £10,000 and £20,000 and (vi) above £20,000 in working tax credits and child tax credits in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The average number of in-work families in England in 2003–04 by level of annualised finalised tax credit entitlement is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Thousand 
			 2003–04 entitlement(29) Number of awards 
		
		
			 Under £1,000(30) 1,737 
			 Between £1,000 and £2,500 477 
			 Between £2,500 and £5,000 547 
			 Between £5,000 and £10,000 756 
			 Between £10,000 and £20,000 49 
			 £20,000 and over(31) — 
			 All 3,566 
		
	
	(29) Annualised 2003–04 entitlement based on circumstances throughout the year and finalised 2003–04 incomes. (For further details see introduction of 'Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04').
	(30) Excluding families with awards tapered to zero.
	(31) Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.
	The average number of in-work families in Tees Valley 1 in 2003–04 by level of annualised finalised tax credit entitlement is shown in the following table:
	1 Tees Valley is defined as the sum of the unitary authorities of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees.
	
		
			  Thousand 
			 2003–04 entitlement(32) Number of awards 
		
		
			 Under £1,000(33) 25.2 
			 Between £1,000 and £2,500 7.2 
			 Between £2,500 and £5,000 9.0 
			 Between £5,000 and £10,000 14.6 
			 Between £10,000 and £20,000 1 
			 £20,000 and over(34) — 
			 All 56.7 
		
	
	(32) Annualised 2003–04 entitlement based on circumstances throughout the year and finalised 2003–04 incomes. (For further details see introduction of 'Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04').
	(33) Excluding families with awards tapered to zero.
	(34) Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.
	The average number of in-work families in Middlesborough South and East Cleveland in 2003–04 by level of annualised finalised tax credit entitlement is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Thousand 
			 2003–04 entitlement(35) Number of awards 
		
		
			 Under £1,000(36) 3.8 
			 Between £1,000 and £2,500 1.0 
			 Between £2,500 and £5,000 1.2 
			 Between £5,000 and £10,000 1.7 
			 Between £10,000 and £20,000(37) — 
			 £20,000 and over(37) — 
			 All 7.7 
		
	
	(35) Annualised 2003–04 entitlement based on circumstances throughout the year and finalised 2003–04 incomes. (For further details see introduction of 'Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04').
	(36) Excluding families with awards tapered to zero.
	(37) Sample size too small to provide a reliable estimate.

Tax Credits

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the online system for claiming tax credits will become fully operative.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC take fraud very seriously and as part of their ongoing compliance work have identified and stopped attempts to defraud the tax credit system by making claims through the tax credits e-portal. In the light of this, HMRC has closed the tax credits e-portal while it makes enhancements to ensure that the system remains secure.
	The current plan is a series of strengthening measures to be implemented through planned IT releases and HMRC will reopen the portal once this work provides the necessary assurance.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research into the impact of recovery in year of overpaid tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 518W.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many software errors generating incorrect payments have been discovered in computer systems used to administer tax credits in each year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested.
	Details of errors were included in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General for 2003–04, which can be found with the Board's Annual Report and Accounts for 2003–04 at www.hmrc.gov.uk/pdfs/report2004.pdf.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when his Department first became aware that personal data held by HM Revenue and Customs was being used in relation to tax credit fraud;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the cost of organised fraud of the tax credit system in each quarter since April 2003; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when HM Revenue and Customs first detected organised fraudulent use of the tax credit system; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what recommendations officials in HM Revenue and Customs made to the Paymaster General in June 2005 about organised attempts to defraud the tax credits system; and what steps were taken as a result;
	(5)  when HM Revenue and Customs first considered closing the e-portal to reduce the risks of organised fraud of the tax credit system.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers I gave him on 18 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1357–58W) and 24 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2048–49W.

Tax Credits

Ian Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what sanctions are faced by individuals from other EU member states who are found to be fraudulently claiming (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit;
	(2)  if he will investigate the extent to which workers from the new EU accession countries are fraudulently claiming tax credits.

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigation he has undertaken into possible fraud against the tax credit system by migrant workers from other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 24 January 2006
	HMRC use a number of sophisticated tools to help them detect wrong and fraudulent claims. Cases requiring compliance intervention are selected using a risk-based approach, which examines the overall features of a claim, not the individual's nationality.
	In addition, HMRC also consider all allegations of fraud seriously and will investigate any matter where there is sufficient risk. Where it is established that a claimant has provided incorrect or fraudulent information, HMRC have a number of measures available to them including the use of financial penalties. In the most serious cases HMRC will investigate with a view to securing a criminal prosecution under the new criminal offence of tax credit fraud.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) tax credit awards, (b) tax credit awards where the claimant was in receipt of the maximum tax credits to which they were entitled and (c) tax credit awards where the claimant received only the family element of the child tax credit there were in 2003–04; and what the (i) total value and (ii) average award was of tax credits in each category in that period.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 26 January 2006
	For parts (a) and (c) I refer the hon. Member to the publication Child and Working Tax Credits Finalised Annual Awards 2003–04" (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-annual-0304.pdf).
	(b) The following shows additional analyses based on the same data, and cover only the in-work period of families with awards where the claimant was in receipt of the maximum tax credits to which they were entitled in 2003–04:
	
		
			  2003–04 
		
		
			 Average number during 2003–04 (thousand) 484 
			 Total entitlement during 2003–04 (£ million) 3,179 
			 Average annualised entitlement (£) 6,568

Tax Credits

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2006, Official Report, column 773W, on tax credits, how many tax credit applications are being processed; and how many of these applications were received (a) up to six months ago and (b) more than six months ago.

Dawn Primarolo: At 31 December 2005, around 155,000 claims for tax credits were being processed. At 23 January 2006, around 117,000 claims for tax credits were being processed. Information about the length of time that these claims have been outstanding is not available. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has Service Delivery Agreement targets for deciding tax credit claims within 5 working days and 30 working days. The Department's Annual Report reported its progress against those targets. It reported that, for 2004–05, 95.9 per cent. of all new claims, renewals and changes of circumstances were decided within 30 working days of receipt.
	With the small percentage of claims that have not been decided within 30 working days, HMRC are verifying information and will be in touch with claimants to obtain further information.

Tax Credits

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many home visits were arranged by HM Revenue and Customs claimant compliance officers to investigate tax credit claims in each month of 2005;
	(2)  what criteria are used to select individuals for a home visit by claimant compliance officers investigating tax credit claims;
	(3)  what his most recent estimate is of the cost of a home visit carried out by HM Customs and Revenue claimant compliance officers investigating tax credit claims.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of visits HMRC claimant compliance officers have made to claimants as part of their investigations into fraud and error is not available.
	HMRC uses its discretion in each case to determine the best way to obtain the information they need during their investigations. In the majority of instances, this can be done without the need to arrange a meeting with the customer. Where it is determined that a face to face meeting would be appropriate, HMRC give the claimant the option to meet on HMRC premises or at the claimant's home address.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many claims for tax credits were made by severely disabled adult workers without children in each month from April 2003 to January 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many claims for child tax credit for disabled children were made in each month since April 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: The characteristics of adults and children as initially captured in all tax credits claims, including rejected claims, are not available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The numbers of tax credits awards to in-work families with particular characteristics at selected dates from July 2003 to December 2005 are available in publications on the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency operates an incentive scheme for staff for (a) council tax valuations and (b) business rate valuations.

Dawn Primarolo: The Valuation Office Agency does not operate an incentive scheme for valuations.

VAT (Charities)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will (a) remove and (b) reduce the VAT burden on charities.

Ivan Lewis: Many of the supplies made by charities are not subject to VAT. Charities also benefit from VAT reliefs on their purchases worth more than £200 million per year. This forms part of the total tax reliefs for charities worth £2.4 billion per year.
	Under agreements governing the application of VAT reliefs throughout the EU, successive Governments have agreed with European partners not to extend any existing VAT zero rates or introduce any new ones. The scope of the exemptions from VAT is similarly limited by European agreements. It is therefore not possible for the Government to introduce any new VAT zero rates or exemptions for supplies or purchases made by charities.
	Charities VAT costs have been considered by the Government in two major reviews since 1997. In the course of these reviews it was not possible to find a solution that was practical, efficient, affordable, well-targeted and based on principle. Available resources are better and more effectively deployed through targeted initiatives and support, such as the Futurebuilders investment fund, rather than through a general VAT refund scheme for all charities.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many appeals against antisocial behaviour orders were funded by legal aid in the last 12 months; and what the (a) average and (b) total cost to public funds of this legal aid was.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Service Commission has only recorded data relating to antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) since March 2005.
	During March to December 2005, there were 25 appeals made to the Crown court against an ASBO. The average cost of these appeals was £1,135.64 and the total cost for this period was £28,391.
	Appeals against ASBOs may also form part of a wider appeal in civil and criminal proceedings. The ASBO element of these cases could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Commission for Racial Equality

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with the Commission for Racial Equality.

Harriet Harman: The Secretary of State has met the chair and representatives of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) on several occasions.
	HM Inspectorate of Court Administration has on-going contact with the Commission for Racial Equality in relation to their role in monitoring HM Court Services' compliance with the duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, their own internal responsibilities and linkage with the Department for Constitutional Affairs' Race Equality Scheme.
	DCA corporate staff network for black and minority ethnic staff (PROUD), approached the Commission for Racial Equality to participate in PROUD's black history month in October 2005. Trevor Phillips attended giving a presentation on Race Equality in the Public Service.

Court Service (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent performance of the Court Service in Coventry.

Harriet Harman: All data cover April to December 2005 unless stated otherwise (targets, where applicable, in brackets)
	Provision of Timely Information to Other Agencies
	Mags: 100 per cent. of all court registers produced within 3 days (100 per cent.)
	Mags: 100 per cent. of all representation order application decisions despatched within two days (100 per cent.)
	Mags: 100 per cent. of all committals to the Crown court despatched within four days (100 per cent.)
	Ineffective Trials (PSA 1)
	Crown: 14.8 per cent. of all trials (17 per cent.)
	Mags: 20.6 per cent. of all trials (22.5 per cent.)
	Criminal Case Timeliness (PSA 1)
	Crown: 83 per cent. of cases listed in target (78 per cent.)
	Mags: 86 per cent. of cases completed within target periods (80 per cent.)
	Persistent Young Offenders (PSA 1)
	Crown: Average of 183 days to completion (180 days)
	Mags: Average of 47 days to completion (60 days)
	Payment Rate (PSA 2)
	Mags: 70 per cent. (75 per cent.)
	Enforcement of Court Order Breaches (PSA2)
	Mags: Average of 27 days from unacceptable failure to comply with order to resolution (35 days)
	Mags: 74 per cent. of breaches resolved within 25 days (50 per cent.)
	Small Claims (PSA 4)
	County: 58 per cent. of claims heard within 15 weeks (80.5 per cent.)
	Fast-Track Claims (PSA 4)
	County: 82 per cent. of claims heard within 30 weeks (78 per cent.)
	Multi-Track Claims (PSA 4)
	County: 59 per cent. of claims heard within 50 weeks (78 per cent.)
	Family Public Law (PSA 4)
	County: 28 per cent. of cases completed within 40 weeks (35 per cent.)
	Mags: 14.3 per cent. of cases completed within 40 weeks (43.9 per cent.)
	Family Private Law
	County: 67 per cent. of cases completed within 40 weeks (70 per cent.)
	Adoptions
	County: 81 per cent. of cases completed within 20 weeks (70 per cent.)
	Courtroom Utilisation
	Crown and County: 96 per cent. of available courtroom capacity utilised (no target)
	Mags: 86 per cent. of available courtroom capacity utilised (80 per cent.)

Departmental Properties

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was paid by her Department in 2004–05 in rent for properties in (a) total, (b) each (i) region and (ii) nation of the UK and (c) London.

Harriet Harman: The answer provided relates solely to property on the HQ estate of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. It does not cover HM Court Service, associated offices or NDPB's as this information is neither collated nor managed by DCA and to obtain it would incur a disproportionate cost. Wales Office and Scotland Office are excluded on the grounds that they fund their own rent and should receive this question directly.
	(a) My Department paid a total of £14,297,265.00 in property rental in the financial year 2004–05.
	(b) (i) By region, the breakdown is:
	
		
			 Region Property rental (£) 
		
		
			 East Midlands Nil 
			 East of England Nil 
			 North East 93,856 
			 North West 134,056 
			 South East Nil 
			 South West 36,252 
			 West Midlands Nil 
			 Yorks and Humber Nil 
			 Scotland 30,870 
			 Wales Nil 
			 London 14,002,231 
		
	
	(b) (ii) by Nation the breakdown is:
	
		
			 Nation Property rental (£) 
		
		
			 England 14,266,395 
			 N. Ireland Nil 
			 Scotland 30,870 
			 Wales Nil 
		
	
	(c) The total rental paid in London was £14,002,231.
	The individual breakdown by building was as follows:
	
		
			 Building Rental paid (£) 
		
		
			 Selborne House, London 2,175,000 
			 Southside, London (38)4,216,711 
			 30 Millbank, London 229,313 
			 Millbank Tower, London 1,464,050 
			 Chancery Lane, London 2,332,918 
			 Conquest House, London 481,600 
			 Greycoat Place, London (38)312,456 
			 Archway Tower, London 884,000 
			 Steel House, London 1,629,183 
			 Sunlight House, Manchester 134,056 
			 Gateshead 11,875 
			 Burghill, Bristol 9,356 
			 Tower House, Bristol 26,896 
			 Hayes (39)277,000 
			 City House, Leeds 37,830 
			 MWB, Leeds (38)44,151 
			 Edinburgh 30,870 
		
	
	(38) Now disposed of.
	(39) Now with MOD.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many members of the Judicial Correspondence Unit took (a) voluntary early severance and (b) early retirement in each year since 1997.

Harriet Harman: The Department's records do not show that any members of the Judicial Correspondence Unit have taken voluntary early severance or early retirement since 1997.

Judicial Correspondence Unit

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many disciplinary actions against officials employed by the Judicial Correspondence Unit (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Harriet Harman: Data for the number of employees (in any part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs) against whom disciplinary action has been commenced, or in respect of whom disciplinary sanctions, short of dismissal, have been applied are only recorded on individual files. These are retained for the appropriate period before removal and destruction in compliance with the Department's obligations under the Data Protection Act. It is not therefore possible to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate costs.

Legal Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on legal aid in each year since 1998.

Bridget Prentice: Legal Aid cash expenditure in each year since 1998 was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 1,525 
			 1998–99 1,623 
			 1999–2000 1,551 
			 2000–01 1,664 
			 2001–02 1,716 
			 2002–03 1,908 
			 2003–04 2,077 
			 2004–05 2,037

Legal Aid

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the savings that would have been made had means testing for legal aid in (a) magistrates courts and (b) Crown courts not been abolished in 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Legal Aid

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the cost of legal aid in Northern Ireland has been since 2002–03.

Bridget Prentice: The cost of legal aid in Northern Ireland each year since 2002–03 is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Amount 
		
		
			 2002–03 45.0 
			 2003–04 49.8 
			 2004–05 58.6

New Magistrates Court (High Peak)

Tom Levitt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she expects to announce a timetable for the development of the new magistrates court at New Mills, High Peak.

Harriet Harman: My Department is unable to say when it will be able to proceed with the construction of a new courthouse in New Mills until the outstanding application under Section 13 of the Commons Registration Act 1965 is determined by the Derbyshire county council.

Queens' Counsel

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what percentage of the English Bar are Queen's Counsel.

Harriet Harman: There are currently 14,623 members of the England and Wales Bar, of whom 11,796 are independent barristers in private practice and 2,827 are employed. 1,134 are Queen's Counsel, which is 7.8 per cent. of the total and 9.6 per cent. of the independent Bar.

Small Claims Court (Gloucester)

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the waiting time from allocation to hearing for small claims at Gloucester County Court was in the last period for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: The average waiting time from allocation to hearing for small claims at Gloucester County Court for the period April to December 2005 was 10.3 weeks.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Bedroom Standard

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many children in the south east region were living in accommodation one or more bedrooms below the bedroom standard in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Using data from the Survey of English Housing it is estimated that over the three-year period 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05, the number of children in the south east region living in households that are one or more bedrooms below the bedroom standard was 100,000.

Bedroom Standard

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress has been made since 1997 in reducing the number of children living in overcrowded conditions in the south east; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Using data from the Survey of English Housing it is estimated that over the three-year period 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99, the number of children in the south east region living in overcrowded households, based on the bedroom standard, was 100,000. This is the same as the estimate for the latest available period: 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05.
	The Government have doubled its investment in social housing from 1997 levels, and the Housing Corporation has now taken steps to encourage investment in larger homes through its National Affordable Housing Programme, so that more large homes can be built.

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions his Office consulted citizens juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens jury.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not specifically consulted citizens juries on departmental policies within the last five years. However it does use a wide range of consultation methods, including fora and focus groups, in order to ensure public participation in the policy process.

Concessionary Travel

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list local authorities that have made representations to him objecting to the distribution of grant for the proposed extension of the concessionary travel scheme for older and disabled people.

Phil Woolas: Out of the 336 representations received during the consultation period for the local government finance settlement, 61 mentioned the funding for concessionary fares. The points raised are summarised in the following tables:
	
		Table 1: Summary table
		
			 Issue Number of representations 
		
		
			 Not enough money for concessionary fares 34 
			 Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 18 
			 Judgement for setting coefficients not transparent 2 
			 Need more transparency in the amount of funding for concessionary fares 5 
			 Miscellaneous 2 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Authority/Association and the main issue raised
		
			  Authority/Association Issue raised 
		
		
			 1 Association of London Government (ALG) Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 2 County Councils Network (CCN) Judgement for setting coefficients not transparent 
			 3 Local Government Association (LGA) Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 4 Mersey Travel Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 5 Society of District County Treasurers (SDCT) Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 6 South East England Regional Authority Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 7 Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA) Need more transparency in the amount of funding for concessionary fares 
			 8 Sparsity Partnership for Authorities delivering Rural Services (SPARSE) Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 9 Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 10 Lincolnshire County, district and police authorities Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 11 Rob Wilson MP—Wokingham District Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 12 Anne Milton MP—Guildford Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 13 Bexley Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 14 Camden Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 15 Croydon Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 16 Hammersmith and Fulham Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 17 Harrow Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 18 Lambeth Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 19 London Borough of Havering Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 20 Sutton Need more transparency in the amount of funding for concessionary fares 
			 21 Birmingham Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 22 Doncaster Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 23 Gateshead Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 24 Greater Merseyside Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 25 Kirklees Need more transparency in the amount of funding for concessionary fares 
			 26 Leeds City Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 27 North Tyneside Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 28 Rochdale MBC Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 29 Sefton Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 30 South Tyneside Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 31 Stockport Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 32 Sunderland City Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 33 Trafford BC Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 34 Carlisle Using RSG to distribute Concessionary Fares is unfair 
			 35 Dacorum Judgement for setting coefficients not transparent 
			 36 East Lindsey Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 37 East Staffordshire Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 38 Epping Forest District Council Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 39 Epsom and Ewell BC Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 40 Fareham Borough Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 41 Guildford Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 42 North Hertfordshire Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 43 North Kesteven Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 44 North Norfolk Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 45 Nuneaton and Bedworth Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 46 Preston City Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 47 Restormel Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 48 Rushcliffe Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 49 South Hams Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 50 South Norfolk Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 51 Spelthorne Council Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 52 Thanet Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 53 West Devon Need more transparency in the amount of funding for concessionary fares 
			 54 West Lancashire District Council Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 55 Brighton and Hove Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 56 Derby City Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 57 Gloucester City Council Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 58 Medway Support the concessionary fare funding scheme 
			 59 Stockton Borough Council Need more transparency in the amount of funding for concessionary fares 
			 60 Torbay Not enough money for concessionary fares 
			 61 East Sussex Concessionary fares should be funded by a specific grant

Consolidated Fund

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons there was a failure to pay national non-domestic rates collected from local authorities into the Consolidated Fund in 2004–05; how much was involved; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The usual procedure is that receipts received in one month are paid into the Consolidated Fund on the eighth banking day of the following month. However, to avoid problems with year end accruals, the usual practice is to pay over the March receipts before our accounting system closes in March. Although the intention was to do this in March 2005, it was inadvertently overlooked and the payment was made on 12 April.
	This transaction concerns the transfer of money between two central Government accounts at the Bank of England and therefore did not involve any loss of interest, or any risk to taxpayers' money. As at 31 March 2005 the national non-domestic rates (NNDR) requiring payment to the Consolidated Fund was £824 million. As it was year end, the amount received was lower than the usual monthly amount, which is typically about £1.6 billion.
	Procedures have been put in place to ensure that this oversight will not happen again and that future relevant payment will be made in March.

Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter of 13 December 2005 from the hon. Member for Castle Point on the Thames Gateway Port and compensation for Thames estuary fishermen.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no record of receiving the hon. Member's letter of 13 December 2005 although officials in the ODPM have now obtained a copy of it from the hon. Member. However, the subject matter of the correspondence is the responsibility of the Department for Transport who will therefore reply directly to the hon. Member.

Council Tax

Anne Milton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the district precept of Band D council tax (a) excluding and (b) including average parish precepts was in (i) Guildford borough and (ii) Waverley borough, in each year since 1997–98.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is tabled as follows.
	
		£
		
			  Average Band D council tax for the authority 
			  Guildford Waverley 
			  Excluding parish precepts Including parish precepts Excluding parish precepts Including parish precepts 
		
		
			 1997–98 89 103 91 107 
			 1998–99 95 109 97 117 
			 1999–2000 91 106 100 122 
			 2000–01 96 112 104 129 
			 2001–02 103 119 108 135 
			 2002–03 112 129 114 144 
			 2003–04 121 139 125 157 
			 2004–05 125 144 132 165 
			 2005–06 128 148 139 173 
		
	
	Source:
	BR1 returns

Council Tax

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual change was in the average council tax for a band D property in each year since 1997–98.

Phil Woolas: Details of the annual change in the average council tax for a band D property in each year since 1997–98 are published in Table 2.2e of Local Government Financial Statistics England 2005, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House and on the web at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/lgfs/2005/lgfsl6/h/lgfsl6/xlsfiles/lgsf16–2-2k.xls

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on tackling council tax (a) fraud, (b) evasion and (c) underpayments.

Phil Woolas: Billing authorities are under statutory duty to take reasonable steps to ascertain whether dwellings should qualify for a council tax exemption or whether a discount should apply. Billing authorities have the power to fine individuals who fail to notify them that an exemption or discount should no longer apply. Where a person claims a discount or exemption, to which they know that they are not entitled, then they may be subject to prosecution under the Theft Act 1968 for obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.
	None of these duties could be undertaken without a property valuation.

Council Tax

Hywel Francis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to entitle (a) husbands and wives and (b) other partners who care for one another due to (i) illness and (ii) disability, whether they work or not, to council tax rebate.

Phil Woolas: Carers are already disregarded for the purposes of calculating entitlement to a council tax discount in some circumstances. The rules are designed to ensure that the person being cared for does not face a higher council tax bill as a result of their care needs, not to provide a general reduction in council tax for those receiving or providing care. Council tax benefit is available to husbands, wives and other partners who care for one another, whether they are in work or not, if they are on a low income.
	The Government has no plans to introduce new council tax exemptions and discounts. Sir Michael Lyons' Inquiry into local government funding, including the reform of council tax, is due to report at the end of this year.

Departmental Accounts (Irregularities)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what financial irregularity occurred in 2004–05, as referred to in the Department's Resource Accounts for 2004–05; how much was involved; which departmental division was involved; which Minister had oversight of the areas; whether the police authorities have been informed; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As criminal charges have been brought and the matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.

Departmental Accounts (Irregularities)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department's Accounting Officer has made of the financial irregularities referred to in the Department's Resource Accounts for 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: As criminal charges have been brought and the matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time.

Departmental Losses

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been lost by his Department due to (a) fraud, (b) theft and (c) loss of property in each year since its creation; and what estimate he has made of such losses in 2005–06 to date.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is as follows.
	(a) Losses due to fraud in each year since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year ODPM (C) (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 8,592 
			 2003–04 3,622 
			 2004–05 867,200 
			 2005–06 0 
		
	
	(b) Losses due to theft in each financial year since the ODPM was created are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year ODPM (C) (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,901 
			 2003–04 6,350 
			 2004–05 1,000 
			 2005–06 2,000 
		
	
	(c) Loss of property in each year since the ODPM was created is as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year ODPM (C) (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 75 
			 2003–04 3,678 
			 2004–05 0 
			 2005–06 0 
		
	
	No estimate of losses has been made for 2005–06. The figures shown for that year are for losses made to date.

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 3 November 2005, Official Report, columns 1264–65W, for the cost of the main Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website: odpm.gov.uk.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 17 October 2005, Official Report, columns 805–06W, for monthly visitors to the site from September 2003 to August 2005. Figures for September and October 2005 are table as follows:
	
		
			 Month Unique visitors 
		
		
			 September 2005 177,413 
			 October 2005 187,381

East of England Plan

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to meet representatives of the East of England Regional Assembly to discuss the results of the examination in public of the draft East of England Plan when it is concluded on 16 March.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The normal practice is that any dialogue required between the Regional Assembly and my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in the period following the Examination in Public and prior to issue of the Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's proposed changes would be by written communication. The guidance provides for two types of occasions after the publication of the Panel Report where the Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister may need to meet with representatives of the Regional Assembly:
	'where more evidence is required on matters left unresolved in the Panel Report or further information is required on whether the Secretary of State's proposed changes could be effectively applied'.
	Such a meeting would need to be the subject of a publicly available minute. As yet, no such meeting is envisaged.

Flag Masts (Planning Permission)

Simon Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether planning permission is required for domestic households to erect flag masts on their properties; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 24 January 2006
	Planning permission is required for domestic households to erect flag poles on their properties. The exceptions: are vertical flag poles flying a national flag; flag poles flying flags as advertisements under Class 7 of Schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992; flag poles flying all other flags that have the express consent of the local planning authority to be flown.

Formula Spending Share (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account has been taken of demographic changes since May 2004 in respect of the allocation of the formula spending share to Peterborough city council for 2005–06, with particular reference to migrants from EU accession countries.

Phil Woolas: The 2005–06 formula spending shares announced in a written ministerial statement on 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 24–25WS, used the mid-2003 population estimates. Therefore population changes since May 2004 would not have been taken into account in the calculation of the formula spending shares for 2005–06.
	From 2006–07, projections of population published by the Office for National Statistics will be used in the Local Government Finance Settlement as the key driver of population.

Funding (Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) revenue and (b) capital funding his Department has allocated to (a) West Lancashire district council and (b) Lancashire county council in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was established following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The following tables set out payments made to (a) West Lancashire district council and (b) Lancashire county council since 2002–03
	
		(a) Funding to West Lancashire district council
		
			 £ million 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Total 
		
		
			 Revenue 8.302 8.836 8.668 25.806 
			 Capital 0.483 0.542 1.450 2.475 
		
	
	
		(b) Funding to Lancashire county council
		
			 £ million 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Total 
		
		
			 Revenue 652.099 714.415 735.571 2102.085 
			 Capital 0.561 2.143 1.494 4.198

Government Office for London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the programmes managed by the Government office for London in 2005–06; and what the total funding for each was.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government office for London (GOL) delivers policies and programmes in London on behalf of 10 central Government Departments. Its programme budget in 2005–06 totals £3.3 billion, of which £2.6 billion is grants to the Greater London Authority and its functional bodies. GOL leads on negotiating local area agreements on behalf of Departments, it handles planning casework, it leads on multi-agency work to improve arrangements for the resettlement of London's ex-offenders and preparing and testing plans for emergencies (the work of the London resilience team based in GOL).
	
		
			 Sponsor Department 2005–06 programme Allocation for 2005–06 (£) 
		
		
			 The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) Single Community Programme (aka Community Empowerment Networks CEN) 8,180,694 
			 ODPM Disabled Facilities Grant 15,952,000 
			 ODPM Greater London Authority General Grant 37,493,000 
			 ODPM GLA Preparation Costs 4,000 
			 ODPM Lee Valley Regional Park SCA 458,000 
			 ODPM Housing Action Trusts 7,850,000 
			 ODPM Single Regional Housing Pot (HIP element) 215,210,000 
			 ODPM Private Sector Renewal Discretionary Pot (Housing) 11,100,000 
			 ODPM LA Regeneration Pot (Housing) 58,571,000 
			 ODPM Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 128,489,841 
			 ODPM Neighbourhood Renewal—Skills and Knowledge 391,327 
			 ODPM New Deal for Communities 72,000,000 
			 ODPM Neighbourhood Management 2,090,000 
			 ODPM Street Crime Wardens 3,736,475 
			 ODPM Liveability Fund 3,338,333 
			 ODPM Local Area Growth Initiative (LEGI) 2,355,000 
			 ODPM European Regional Development Fund (Objective 2) 31,480,916 
			 ODPM ERDF URBAN 1,275,877 
			
			 Department for Transport (DfT) Greater London Authority Transport Grant 2,161,015,000 
			
			 Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Sustainable Development Regional Publicity Budget 46,000 
			 DEFRA Sustainable Farming and Food Fund 50,000 
			 DEFRA Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative 20,000 
			 DEFRA Regional Waste Fund 50,000 
			
			 Department for Education and Skills (DFES) Community Champions 556,968 
			 DFES Connexions Partnership Grant Funding 74,437,563 
			 DFES Positive Activities For Young People Total (including main project, Uproject, key workers, key workers training and devt, secondees) 14,920,362 
			 DFES Transforming Youth Work Performance Improvement Fund 1,585,660 
			 DFES TYWPIF Secondees 47,000 
			 DFES Millennium Volunteers 1,852,984 
			 DFES Vocational and Work Related Learning 300,000 
			 DFES Testbed Learning Communities 67,000 
			 DFES Regional Networking and Development Budget 10,000 
			
			 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) London Development Agency Grants 374,053,000 
			 DTI Regional Energy Strategy Delivery Budget 195,355 
			
			 Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) European Structural Fund (ESF) Objective 2 3,104,118 
			 DWP European Structural Fund (ESF) Objective 3 75,141,688 
			
			 Home Office Basic Command Unit Fund 9,952,587 
			 Home Office Building Safer Communities Fund 11,880,386 
			 Home Office Anti-Social Behaviour Grant 825,000 
			 Home Office Gun Crime (Recovered Criminal Assets Fund) 260,000 
			 Home Office Recovered Assets Fund (RAF) 100,000 
			 Home Office Home Office Directors' Allocation Fund 1,243,300 
			 Home Office Business Crime Advisers 52,000 
			 Home Office Drug Strategy Partnership Support Grant 2,280,581 
			 Home Office Additional Capital Funding 200,000 
			 Home Office Partnership Business Model 106,176 
			 Home Office Domestic Violence Grant 300,000 
			 Home Office Tackling Violent Crime 300,000 
			 Home Office ChangeUp Programme 5,680,693 
			 Home Office Voluntary Sector Regional Networks 116,000 
			 Home Office Connecting Communities 1,283,398 
			
			 Total  3,342,009,282

Hereditaments

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Department's definition of a corporeal hereditament is for council tax valuation purposes.

Phil Woolas: The term 'corporeal hereditament' is not one defined for council tax valuation purposes.

Housing

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has given to the South West Regional Assembly on the numbers of new houses to be built in (a) the South West, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) the Cotswolds.

Yvette Cooper: Current Government guidance on the number of new additional housing required in the South West for the period 1996 to 2016 is contained in Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG10) published in 2001. RPG10 includes a figure for Gloucestershire County but no figures for any district council such as Cotswolds. The South West figure in RPG 10 is 20,200 net additional houses per annum and 2,400pa for Gloucestershire.
	The South West Regional Assembly (SWRA), as the Regional Planning Body, is now preparing a draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) as required by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The RSS will replace RPG10; cover the period to 2026; and set out District housing requirements. It is understood that a draft RSS will be submitted by the SWRA for public consultation later this year. No guidance has been given by Government to the SWRA as to what specific housing numbers should be proposed in the draft RSS. Government guidance on the content of the RSS is contained in PPS11 Regional Spatial Strategies" and in PPG3 Housing" on planning for housing.

Housing

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2006–07 Consultation Paper.

Yvette Cooper: The draft Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination 2006–07 was issued for consultation on 7 November 2005.
	Following the conclusion of the consultation, and taking account of representations from stakeholders, including Wolverhampton, the final Determination was published on 20 December 2005.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of his decision to replace local authority council house valuations by valuations by registered social landlords.

Yvette Cooper: It is Government policy that social rents should be restructured and that over time tenants in social housing should pay similar rents for similar properties regardless of landlord.
	The three-year review of rent restructuring policy, which reported in 2004, made a number of recommendations. One was to use the same formula for restructuring local authority rents as that which is currently used for restructuring Registered Social Landlords (RSL) rents, and adopt the Retail Price Index (RPI) as the inflation measure used in calculating local authority rent increases. Individual property valuations are unchanged, but the formula used to calculate rents now uses the average 1999 value for RSL properties.
	We announced on 7 November that we would introduce in full the recommendations made in the review in 2006–07, reinforcing the steps already taken to create a fair and transparent rent setting system in the social rented sector. We have provided additional protection for council tenants by capping at 5 per cent. the average cash increase in rents in any local authority for each of the next two years. This is in addition to the caps and limits that have been in place since the policy was first introduced.

Housing

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he expects to announce the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme in the south east region for (a) 2006–07 and (b) 2007–08;
	(2)  what action his Department has taken to increase the proportion of family-sized social rented homes to be built in the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme in the south east region in (a) 2006–07 and (b) 2007–08.

Yvette Cooper: The Housing Corporation is currently assessing bids for affordable housing schemes planned to start in 2006–08 and discussing with regional housing boards how these will achieve the priorities set out in the regional housing strategies.
	A decision on the overall programme, and its regional components is expected to be announced in March 2006 and announcements on individual allocations will be made subsequent to that.

Mobile Telephone Masts (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new mobile telephone masts have been erected under permitted development rights in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Coventry, South on 2 November 2005, Official Report, column 1066W.

New University (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Department for Education and Skills on the provision of a university for Peterborough.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There have been no discussions between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Education and Skills on the provision of a University for Peterborough.

Planning Controls

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to implement planning controls on mezzanine and other internal floor space additions.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects a further batch of development control measures contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to be implemented in the next few months.

Regional Fire Control Centres

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date London's existing regional fire control centre became operational.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The London-wide control centre started taking calls on 20 April 2004.

Standards Board for England

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the cost to the public purse of the five cases investigated by the Standards Board for England in the Peterborough city council area since September 2004; and what the outcome was of each investigation.

Phil Woolas: Officers of the Standards Board for England (SBE) have investigated seven cases involving members of Peterborough city council in the period since September 2004. These are listed, along with the outcome of each case:
	SBE case reference: 3770.03 and 3814.03
	Allegations referred to Adjudication Panel for England (APE)
	Outcome: Member disqualified for 2 years. Following High Court appeal, decision upheld, but sanction reduced to 1 year suspension.
	SBE case reference: 3957.03
	Allegations referred to APE
	Outcome: Member disqualified for 18 months. Following High Court Appeal, this sanction was quashed.
	SBE case reference: 7067.04
	Outcome: There was a breach of the code of conduct but no further action is necessary.
	SBE case reference: 7718.04
	Outcome: No breach of the code of conduct
	SBE case reference: 8322.04
	Outcome: Case referred to local authority's standards committee for determination.
	Hearing currently adjourned.
	SBE case reference: 9292.04
	Outcome: No breach of the code of conduct.
	SBE case reference: 9293.04
	Outcome: No breach of the code of conduct.
	Taking into account the average cost of an investigation (£7,000) and the cost of various APE hearings and High Court appeals, the total cost incurred by the Board in respect of these cases is about £143,200.

Town/Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of public support is required for eligibility for a new (a) town and (b) parish council; and how that support is required to be demonstrated.

Phil Woolas: Under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, there are two ways in which a new town or parish council can be established both requiring different ways of demonstrating public support.
	Section 11 of the Act provides for a petition to be raised for the creation of a new parish in a previously unparished area. For a petition to be considered valid it must be signed by not less than 250 or 10 per cent. of local government electors in the area of the proposed parish, whichever is the greater.
	Section 9 of the Act provides that a district council may conduct a review of parish arrangements in their area and make recommendations to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for the establishment of a new parish. Under section 10 of the Act district councils must take steps they consider sufficient to inform persons who may be interested in reviews and proposals and take into consideration any representations made to them.

Town/Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria on (a) the minimum size of a community and (b) other matters are used to determine suitability for creation of a new town council.

Phil Woolas: In determining suitability for the creation of a new town council, the statutory criteria are the need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities, and to secure effective and convenient local government. Section 16(2) of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 requires that a parish with 200 or more electors must have a parish council.

Town/Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the creation of new town councils.

Phil Woolas: Where there is a desire by local people for the creation of new town and parish councils and provided that the proposals received meet the provisions set out in section 22 of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will create such councils.

Town/Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applications for new (a) town and (b) parish councils have been (i) submitted and (ii) successful in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The following table shows for each year since 1 April 2001 the number of parishes created from which town and parish councils are set up. Records of applications received are not comprehensive over this period.
	
		
			  Parishes created 
		
		
			 2001–02 12 
			 2002–03 25 
			 2003–04 23 
			 2004–05 6 
			 2005–06 (40)4 
		
	
	(40) Provisional

Town/Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his target time is for dealing with each part of the process relating to applications to create a new town council; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Following receipt, proposals to create a new town or parish council need to be examined to ensure that they comply with the legislation and that they meet the statutory criteria. In addition, maps need to be commissioned showing the proposed parish, and there is a period of consultation of up to six weeks on the content of the draft Order that will implement new parish arrangements. It presently takes between six to nine months for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to complete these stages.

Town/Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what submissions his Department has received from Castle Point borough council on the establishment of a Canvey town council.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received a petition via Castle Point borough council for the establishment of a Canvey Island town council on 17 January 2006.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of detected benefit fraud in each of the last six years was; and if he will estimate what the level of undetected fraud was in each year.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Cases of detected fraud Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 1999–2000 198,467 9,272 9,129 
			 2000–01 182,569 11,584 11,403 
			 2001–02 160,974 11,355 11,183 
			 2002–03 145,232 9,396 9,267 
			 2003–04 135,710 9,204 9,091 
			 2004–05 150,651 8,670 8,573 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The above figures for cases of detected fraud are based on the number of effective benefit cases, which is defined as an investigation that results in an adjustment of the current rate of benefit, an overpayment or an underpayment or the person ceasing their claim to benefit. Effective cases are the total of benefit cases plus IOP cases.
	2. Figures exclude GMS.
	Source:
	FiBS
	We do not collect information on the level of detected benefit fraud from local authorities. The level of housing benefit overpaid due to fraud has been estimated from 2002–03 onwards and reported as National Statistics. The latest published estimates for the percentage of housing expenditure overpaid due to fraud (within the scope of the sample) is 1.5 per cent. in 2002–03 and 2003–04. The estimate is based on a sample of cases and is therefore subject to sampling error. Estimates for 2004–05 are due to be published on 19 January 2006.
	We have no estimate of undetected fraud.

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of benefit fraud were detected in each of the last six years; and how many of these have resulted in (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the table.
	
		Number of cases of detected fraud, prosecutions and convictions (excluding housing benefit and council tax benefit)
		
			  Cases of detected fraud Prosecutions Convictions 
		
		
			 1999–2000 198,467 9,272 9,129 
			 2000–01 182,569 11,584 11,403 
			 2001–02 160,974 11,355 11,183 
			 2002–03 145,232 9,396 9,267 
			 2003–04 135,710 9,204 9,091 
			 2004–05 150,651 8,670 8,573 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The above figures for cases of detected fraud are based on the number of effective benefit cases, which is defined as an investigation that results in an adjustment of the current rate of benefit, an overpayment or an underpayment or the person ceasing their claim to benefit. Effective cases are the total of benefit cases plus Instrument of Payment cases.
	2. Figures exclude General Matching Service (GMS).
	Source:
	Fraud Information by Sector (FiBS)
	We do not collect information on the number of benefit fraud cases detected by local authorities. The number of attempted prosecutions and convictions undertaken by local authorities is given in the table:
	
		Number of prosecutions and convictions (housing benefit and council tax benefit only)
		
			  Number of court summons issued (prosecutions") Number of successful prosecutions (convictions") 
		
		
			 1999–2000 — 861 
			 2000–01 — 1112 
			 2001–02 2,101 1,732 
			 2002–03 3,187 2,503 
			 2003–04 4,601 3,747 
			 2004–05 5,544 4,688 
			 2005–06 (Q1 and Q2 only) 3,336 2,892 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures for local authority prosecutions which did not lead to conviction are not available prior to 2001–02.

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many fraud inspectors there have been in his Department to investigate (a) incapacity benefit fraud and (b) other benefit fraud in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: Benefit fraud investigators in the Department for Work and Pensions deal with allegations of benefit fraud relating to all benefits administered by this department. we do not employ a specific number of staff to investigate incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance fraud.
	The table shows available information on the number of investigators employed by the Department.
	
		DWP fraud investigators
		
			  Full-time equivalents 
		
		
			 June 2004 1,900.1 
			 June 2005 1,870.1 
		
	
	Note:
	Information is not available in the above format before 2004.
	Source:
	Fraud Business Report (latest figure available from quarter ending June2005).
	In addition, from April 2006 we are introducing new Customer Compliance Officers to tackle low-level abuse that cannot be taken through the criminal courts.

Benefits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to improve the interface with local authorities in relation to the payment of means tested benefits.

James Plaskitt: The Department is modernising welfare delivery to improve accessibility, accuracy and value for money of services to customers. The Customer Management System (CMS) is an integrated, information-gathering system for working age customers that is being rolled out across the Jobcentre Plus network. Most local authorities are now receiving at least some of their housing benefit and council tax benefit claims via CMS. In October 2005, changes were made to the system that brought a number of improvements for local authorities, the most significant being a reduction in clerical documentation with three forms being reduced to a single local authority Input Document. We are continuing to monitor and evaluate the impact of CMS on local authorities.
	We are currently piloting a new electronic link between the Department and local authorities. The link will use modern technology to pass information about DWP benefits to local authority housing benefit and council tax benefit staff. We expect the new IT to be more efficient than current links, to provide local authority staff with access to a wider range of information about DWP benefits and enable them to process the benefits that they administer more quickly. Subject to an evaluation, the new link will be rolled out nationally by the end of 2006.

Benefits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on the harmonisation of pay days for different benefits, with particular reference to claimants moving from one benefit to another.

Margaret Hodge: The Green Paper A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work", published on 24 January 2006, makes clear our commitment to simplify the benefits system. A key aim of simplification is to ease transitions in and out of work. Problems caused by differences in paydays will be considered as part of this.

Benefits

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid to workers from the accession countries in (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) housing benefit and (c) other benefits since May 2004.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total number of non-resident parents who (a) make maintenance payments under the Child Support Agency (CSA) rules, (b) cannot be traced to pay under the CSA, (c) are assessed to have a zero liability due to low income, (d) are assessed to make payments but do not do so regularly, (e) have made alternative maintenance arrangements outside the CSA and (f) make no payments and are not referred to the CSA; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty dated 31 January 2006
	In reply to your Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions;
	what his estimate is of the total number of non-resident parents who (a) make maintenance payments under the Child Support Agency (CSA) rules (b) cannot be traced to pay under the CSA (c) are assessed to have a zero liability due to low income (d) are assessed to make payments but do not do so regularly (e) have made alternative maintenance arrangements outside the CSA and (f) make no payments and are not referred to the CSA; and if he will make a statement.
	Such information as is available is presented below:
	(a) In September 2005, 297,000 cases were in receipt of maintenance via the Agency's collection service. In addition, a further 100,000 had a maintenance direct arrangement in place which, when the arrangement was originally set up, would have been underpinned by a CSA calculation or assessment.
	(b) At the end of September 2005, there were 35,000 cases on the old scheme old computer system that were suspended because the NRP could not be traced. In addition, there were 14,000 old scheme cases that required trace action by CSA staff. Equivalent information is not currently available for new and old scheme cases on the new computer system.
	(c) In September 2005, 461,000 cases had a zero liability
	(d) In September 2005, 127,000 cases were scheduled to make payments via the Agency's collection service, but did not comply with this request. An additional 128,000 had a maintenance liability, but no active charging schedule currently in place.
	(e) In respect of the number of NRPs who have made alternative maintenance arrangements outside of the Agency:
	i) In 2003–04 the Family Resources Survey (FRS) reported that there were 550,000 Parents with care (PWCs) who were receiving maintenance direct from the NRP. It is likely that this figure will also include those cases in which the Agency has carried out a calculation or assessment and the NRP is then paying the PWC direct (i.e. maintenance direct" cases, of which there were 84,000 in April 2004). However, it is not possible to quantify the extent to which such maintenance direct cases are, or are not, included in the FRS estimate.
	ii) Analysis of the 2004 Family and Children's Survey suggests that 131,000 households have a court order in force with an absent parent, and that 580,000 households have a voluntary agreement in place. As with the FRS, it is possible that there might be an unquantifiable overlap with Agency's maintenance direct" cases.
	(f) Information is not available for the number of NRPs who make no payments and are not referred to the Agency.
	I hope you find this helpful,

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1152W, on the Child Support Agency, what the single largest compensation payment made since 1 January 1997 was.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Stephen Geraghty. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 31 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; pursuant to the Answer of 15th November Official Report column 1152W on the Child Support Agency what the single largest compensation payment made since 1st January 1997 was.
	As I explained in our previous response, compensatory payments in excess of £10,000 represent only a small fraction (just over 0.1%) of the total number of compensation payments made by the Agency:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Total number of payments made since 1 December 2001 35,558 
			 Under £1,000 33,227 
			 Between £1,000 and £9,999 2,289 
			 Between £10,000 and £49,999 42 
			 Over £50,000 0 
		
	
	The largest compensation payment of £41,000 was paid in September 2002.
	I hope you find this helpful.

Child Support Agency

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1545W, to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on the Child Support Agency (CSA), why it is not possible to break down the number of children supported through the CSA on a geographical basis.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 31 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; pursuant to the Answer of 8th December 2005 Official Report column 1545W to the hon. Member for Kettering on the Child Support Agency (CSA) why it is not possible to break down the number of children supported through the CSA on a geographical basis.
	Information to answer this question is not available for old scheme cases on the old computer system (CSCS). This is because management information for this system is drawn from a 5 per cent. sample of cases, which does not provide a sufficiently large sample size to allow the number of child support cases in any constituency to be broken down into robust estimates of the number or proportion who are paying child support in a particular constituency.
	The Agency is currently undertaking a management information improvement project for the new child support system (CS2), which has already begun to deliver more robust statistics. It is envisaged that the Agency will be in a position to provide constituency level estimates in the New Year for cases on the new computer system, which will be made available on the Department's website alongside the CSA quarterly summary of statistics.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people had received payments under the Financial Assistance Scheme by 31 December 2005.

Stephen Timms: The first payments to 13 members of the ASW (Cardiff) pension scheme were in individuals' bank accounts by Wednesday 21 December 2005.
	Further payments are being made to other scheme members of qualifying schemes once trustees have provided the necessary member information.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that those who are eligible receive assistance from the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Stephen Timms: During 2004 the Department conducted two data collection exercises about FAS with the pensions industry. Prior to the start of the notification period on 1 September 2005, we made contact with every pension scheme which had taken part in these exercises, providing an application form and explanatory leaflet. At the same time, we wrote to all known firms of Pension administrators, advising them of the scheme.
	At the beginning of January, we contacted by telephone, all scheme trustees who had not returned the FAS application form, reminding them that the notification period ends on 28 February. We hope to receive completed application forms from all schemes that appear potentially eligible for the FAS by the close of the notification period.

Jobcentre Plus

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what independent research has been commissioned to assess the (a) outcomes and (b) cost-effectiveness of services provided by (i) Jobcentre Plus and (ii) voluntary and private sector organisations; and what further research is planned.

Margaret Hodge: Jobcentre Plus' main programmes and interventions are subject to a major programme of ongoing evaluation, analysis and monitoring by the Department, supported by a programme of commissioned independent research. Commissioned evaluations of outcomes and effectiveness are published and are publicly available. They can also be found on the DWP website and include all of the new deals and pilot initiatives such as Pathways to Work.
	The Department also evaluates the outcomes and effectiveness of services provided by the private and voluntary sector, the most significant of which is the Employment Zones evaluation. Independent research on customer outcomes include the working age research and analysis publication No. 176 (2003) which compared the job outcomes for people on New Deal 25 plus, before it was re-engineered, with those on the Employment Zone provision.
	Major evaluations also include a full cost benefit analysis and are carried out by DWP economists or by independent experts or a combination of both. Comparing the cost-effectiveness of Jobcentre Plus and private and voluntary sector services is difficult because Jobcentre Plus works in partnership with the private and voluntary sector. The current Employment Zones evaluation, however, will include a cost-benefit assessment. This will be carried out in-house, with administrative data analysis assessing the overall effectiveness of Employment Zones using valid Jobcentre Plus comparisons. This will be available in the autumn of 2006.
	The Department will also commission a short feasibility study to explore the possibility of assessing the overall impact of Jobcentre Plus as well as some of its larger labour market programmes on a range of macroeconomic variables. Results from the feasibility study should be available in the latter half of 2006.
	Copies of the DWP Research Programmes for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are available on the DWP research website http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/

Jobseeker's Allowance

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the main reasons for claimants leaving jobseeker's allowance; and how many people there were in each category of departure in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the table.
	
		Claimants leaving jobseeker's allowance by recorded reason, Great Britain: 1997–98 to 2004–05
		
			  March to February 
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Total JSA Terminations 3,473.3 3,088.4 3,120.6 2,903.3 2,661.3 2,624.0 2,536.0 2,337.0 
			 Move to another benefit in 90 days(41) 472.2 386.2 388.4 378.4 338.3 328.5 266.8 243.3 
			 Return to JSA in 90 days 911.2 904.8 948.6 878.3 802.9 796.1 752.3 686.9 
			 Reach Retirement age/recorded as reaching retirement age 14.7 3.9 3.8 2.3 1.9 1.8 2.6 2.0 
			 Recorded as claiming another benefit 78.3 24.3 21.9 16.4 11.6 14.6 20.0 19.8 
			 Recorded as entering work(42) 1,145.1 1,094.3 1,071.8 796.2 587.3 668.7 858.3 751.9 
			 Recorded as entering New Deal 4.3 3.5 6.3 5.0 4.3 4.9 5.1 4.2 
			 Recorded as failed to attend 395.0 384.5 391.1 301.2 210.9 258.8 341.4 337.5 
			 Recorded as entering training 44.9 57.1 63.5 40.7 24.1 33.1 47.0 51.4 
			 Recorded as entering full time education 146.2 25.9 22.8 14.8 11.5 14.2 18.6 15.7 
			 Recorded as gone abroad 31.9 36.8 35.3 26.4 19.2 24.4 33.0 27.7 
			 Other reason recorded 22.7 18.2 20.7 21.4 16.0 18.0 26.1 28.0 
			 Unknown Reason 206.8 148.7 146.4 422.2 633.2 460.7 164.9 168.5 
		
	
	(41) Moving to another benefit includes those claimants starting to claim income support (IS)/pension credit (PC), incapacity benefit (IB), working families tax credit (WFTC), and disabled persons tax credit (DPTC) within 90 days of the jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claim ending. It is possible that claimants may not move directly from JSA to another benefit, e.g. they may cease claiming JSA, find work and then claim IB within the given 90 day period.
	(42) It is known that the number recorded as returning to work underestimates the true situation. It is not possible to determine the number that moved to employment, however the Destinations of Benefit Leavers 2004" report showed that 62 per cent. of IS, JSA and IB leavers entered employment of 16 hours or more a week.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are expressed in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Those reasons shown as Recorded as" are what are completed on the JSA computer system following termination of the JSA claim. It is known that this information is not reliable and therefore figures should be used as a guide only.
	3. Destinations of terminated JSA claims are assigned in the priority order shown above.
	4. Number of terminations in the last year will increase following receipt of late notifications.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples (terminations dataset).

Longitudinal Data Matching

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what purposes longitudinal data matching is being used in his Department; and what assessment he has made of potential inaccuracies from using this method in benefit fraud cases.

James Plaskitt: The purposes to which longitudinal data matching are used within the Department for Work and Pensions are published on the Departmental website and are held in the Library. Longitudinal data held within the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study are used to perform a range of statistical and research analyses, and some limited operational purposes, to give the Department further opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of its businesses.
	We do not use longitudinal data matching when investigating individual benefit fraud cases. Therefore we have made no assessment of potential inaccuracies from using such a method.
	The majority of operational data matching for identifying fraud is still being undertaken on the Department's Generalised Matching Service; however longitudinal data are being used to inform longer term strategies for dealing with Fraud and Error. The combining of these two areas of work will allow the Department to assess and identify possible new areas of risk or inaccuracy not previously identifiable from simple data matching of current information.

New Deal/Workstep

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to extend (a) New Deal for Disabled People and (b) Workstep to help people back into work; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Contracts for the New Deal for Disabled People and WORKSTEP are now being extended, where necessary, to 31 March 2007. We are currently considering the future of this provision alongside the range of disability employment programmes to ensure they reflect current needs and support our proposals in the Welfare Reform Green Paper.
	We will consult our key stakeholders later in the year.

Pensioners (Fuel Concessions)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total value was of help given to pensioners to help them with fuel bills in each year from 1979 to 1997.

James Plaskitt: The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments scheme was introduced in October 1988. It replaced a similar but not identical Cold Weather Payments scheme which had begun in December 1986. Prior to that there had been a system of payments based on local office discretion.
	The form of the current Cold Weather Payments scheme dates from 1991–92. Under the scheme, a Cold Weather Payment is made when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the eligible customer's postcode. Eligible customers are now those awarded pension credit, or those awarded income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance who have a pensioner or disability premium or a child who is disabled or aged under 5, when the temperature criterion is met for their postcode.
	Data are available only from the start of the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments scheme. Only total expenditure is available, not expenditure on pensioners. The available data is in the following table.
	Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in winter 1997–98 to ensure that pensioners can afford to heat their homes in the winter months.
	
		Cold weather payments in Great Britain
		
			  Total expenditure (£ million) 
		
		
			 1988–89 0.0 
			 1989–90 0.4 
			 1990–91 9.3 
			 1991–92 23.0 
			 1992–93 15.0 
			 1993–94 12.4 
			 1994–95 0.1 
			 1995–96 61.6 
			 1996–97 42.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for 1990–91 include payments for the winter of 1990–91 made in April and May 1991.
	2. As an indication of expenditure on pensioners, the proportion of total Cold Weather Payments expenditure on pensioners in 2000–01 was 50 per cent. (2000–01 is the first year for which both data is available and there was substantial Cold Weather Payments expenditure.) (Source: DSS Programme Accounting Computer System.)
	3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.
	4. Total expenditure for 1988–89 was £2,510. That winter was a particularly mild one.
	Source:
	Secretary of State's annual reports on the Social Fund.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the value of the basic state pension as a proportion of average earnings were current uprating policy to continue in (a) 2010, (b) 2020, (c) 2030, (d) 2040 and (e) 2050.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the table:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			  Full-time median earnings Full-time mean earnings 
		
		
			 2010 17 14 
			 2020 14 12 
			 2030 12 10 
			 2040 10 8 
			 2050 8 7 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures are based on the earnings of full-time employees as recorded by the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). In April 2005 the figure for median earnings was £431 a week and mean earnings was £517.

Pensions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications were made for deemed buy-back under the state second pension in each of the last five years; how many individuals have been offered deemed buy-back in each year; and how many have taken up the offer in each year.

Stephen Timms: In order for a pension scheme member to qualify for deemed buy-back, a scheme's trustees must prove to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that the scheme qualifies for deemed buy-back. HMRC then calculates the amount required to restore state scheme rights to the level they would have been had the pension scheme member never been contracted-out. On receipt of HMRC's calculations, the trustees will determine whether the member actually qualifies for deemed buy-back, before giving the member the options for securing their accrued benefits in this way.
	None of these calculations were issued before 2003. Since 2003, HMRC has issued approximately 7,000 calculations. Of the 7,000 calculations issued, 2,500 members do not qualify for deemed buy-back. HMRC has been notified of 58 pension scheme members who have opted for deemed buy-back (two members in 2004 and 56 members in 2005) and payment has been received for each of them. HMRC has received no information from the trustees regarding the remaining 4,442 pension scheme members.

Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Finance Act 2004 on stakeholder pensions (a) in 2005 and (b) over the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply
	The Finance Act 2004 introduces a radical simplification of the pension tax rules that will sweep away the complexity in the current rules and introduce greater choice, flexibility, transparency, clarity and cost-efficiency. This will benefit all those who participate or want to participate in pension schemes.
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment of April 2004 'Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions' [www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/simplifying-pensions.pdf] sets out the Government's assessment of the impact of the new rules including the plans to evaluate the effects of the Finance Act 2004 changes on pensions. Baseline research on employers and the financial services industry is currently in development.

Post Office Card Account

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what research his Department has carried out into customer satisfaction with the Post Office card account; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the value of the contract for the Post Office card account; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Post Office card account is a product provided by Post Office Limited. My Department has not undertaken any customer satisfaction research specifically relating to the Post Office card account. However, I understand Post Office Limited have recently undertaken such research.
	Around 3.6 million customers of the Department for Work and Pensions currently have their benefit or pension paid into a Post Office card account. (HM Revenue and Customs and the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency also pay some of their customers into a Post Office card account, taking the total number of card accounts to around 4.25 million.) The Post Office card account contract will cost the Government at least £1 billion between 2003 and 2010. The precise value of the contract will depend on how many customers use the card account between now and the end of Government funding in March 2010.

Post Office Card Account

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons his Department has decided to end the Post Office card account (POCA) contract; how many users of the POCA will be affected by this decision; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 26 January 2006
	Around 3.6 million customers of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) currently have their benefit or pension paid into a Post Office card account. (HM Revenue and Customs and the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency also pay some of their customers into a Post Office card account, taking the total number of card accounts to around 4.25 million.)
	The Post Office card account was introduced in April 2003 to help support the conversion of some customers from order books to Direct Payment. It was aimed at those who did not already have a suitable account and was designed as a stepping stone" to help people who had not used a bank account before get used to banking before moving on to an account offering more features.
	In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion, we have always made it clear that payment into a bank or building society account is the best option for the overwhelming majority of customers. The Post Office card account is a simple account with limited functions. It can only receive payments of benefits, pensions and tax credits. It does not, for example, allow customers to make savings on fuel bills by paying by Direct Debit; it cannot receive payments of wages; cheques cannot be paid in to the Post Office card account; and it does not pay interest on balances.
	Although the card account was designed for those who did not already have a bank or building society account, 70 per cent. of people who have opened one already have an account. And the remaining 30 per cent. have shown that, by managing to open and operate a Post Office card account, they can use other easy to operate banking products—including basic bank accounts, which are widely available and accessible at Post Office branches. The Post Office card account has allowed some customers to move from receiving their benefit or pension through cashing an order book at the Post Office counter to getting used to the basics of banking. In practice, there is no real difference in accessing money at the Post Office via a bank account compared to a Post Office card account—customers can collect the same money, on the same day as they do now at the Post Office, by using a plastic card and a personal identification number.
	The Post Office card account contract runs between 2003 and 2010. There was never any expectation that the Government should provide funding beyond that date and there is no case for doing so. The Post Office card account does little to promote financial inclusion. Customers will still be able to collect their benefit or pension at the Post Office by using their bank or building society account there. Around 25 different bank accounts can be accessed at Post Office branches.
	We also understand Post Office Limited is developing new banking and savings products which will be aimed at existing Post Office card account customers. We would like every DWP customer who currently has a Post Office card account to do their banking at the Post Office if that is in their best interests. DWP can help people move off Post Office card accounts to having their benefit or pension paid into more suitable bank or building society accounts, and help them open new ones which can be used at the Post Office if necessary. We will work with the Post Office and other stakeholders to develop a strategy to move customers from the Post Office card account. Our priority will be to ensure that this is a straightforward process for the customers themselves.

Post Office Card Account

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receive benefit or pension payments through a Post Office card account (a) in total and (b) broken down by region.

James Plaskitt: The total number of benefit and pension accounts, which are paid by direct payment into a Post Office card account, is 4,508,800. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 24 January 2006 for the breakdown by region.

Post Office Card Account

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria will be used to assess whether the contract for the Post Office card account is continued for the payment of benefits and pensions after 2010.

James Plaskitt: The Post Office card account contract is a finite contract, which ends in March 2010. The question of criteria, therefore, does not arise.
	Customers will still be able to collect their benefits and pension at the Post Office. If they so wish. Around 25 different accounts can be accessed at the Post Office. The process for withdrawing money from these accounts is the same as for the Post Office card account.

Statutory Sick Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what statistics his Department collects in relation to the administration of statutory sick pay on (a) the number of sick notes issued by doctors and (b) the condition for which the note was issued; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: No such information is collected.

HEALTH

Drug Treatment Testing

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence employs models which adequately measure the change in the quality of life that new drug treatments can provide.

Jane Kennedy: The National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has a well established methodology for measuring the quality of life benefits of the technologies it appraises. NICE frequently consults on its methodologies and invites comments from a wide range of stakeholders.

St Bartholomew's and Royal London Hospitals

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the redevelopment of St. Bartholomew's and Royal London hospitals.

Jane Kennedy: We have now received the report from the strategic health authority and ministers must now consider the full findings of the review.
	We are committed to delivering improvements to NHS services in this part of London. As soon as Ministers have considered the full findings of the review, we will work quickly with the local NHS to finalise consideration of the business case for the Barts and the London private finance initiative scheme.

Community Hospitals

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future of community hospitals.

Patricia Hewitt: The White Paper, Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction For Community Services" was published yesterday, which sets out the Government's vision for the future of community hospitals. This builds on the 2005 manifesto commitment to develop a new generation of modern NHS community hospitals.

Sexual Health

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of sexual health provision in Hertfordshire.

Caroline Flint: Primary care trusts in Hertfordshire are responsible for commissioning sexual health services, which meet the needs of their local population. A Department of Health funded national team reviewing genitor-urinary medicine and sexual health services is visiting Watford and St. Albans next week. This review will provide a push on plans to further develop and improve local sexual health services.

Sexual Health

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were employed by the NHS to provide social health education in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many staff are employed by the NHS in (a) St. Albans, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England solely for the provision of sexual health education; and how many there were in each year since 2000.

Liam Byrne: The requested information is not collected centrally. It is for primary care trusts to provide sexual health services which meet their local population needs.

Nurses

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria were used to decide a two percent. pay award for nurses for 2006–07.

Liam Byrne: Pay awards for nurses are determined by the independent Nurses and Other Health Professions Pay Review Body following evidence submitted by the Government and staff side representatives.

Community Health

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the White Paper on community health.

Liam Byrne: The White Paper, Our health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services" was published on 30 January 2006.

Mental Health

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on funding for mental health services in Cambridge.

Rosie Winterton: Cambridge City primary care trust's allocation will grow by £27.8 million to £123.4 million for 2005–06, an increase of 29.1 percent. In 2006–07 and 2007–08 it will receive allocations of £148 million and £160 million respectively, a cash increase of £23 million or 17 percent., over two years.
	The PCT's spending on mental health services has increased by nearly £16 million since 2002–03. Cambridge City PCT will continue to spend above the national average on mental health services locally.

Mental Health

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average wait for a mental health bed was in (a) Lancashire and (b) Lancaster and Wyre in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		Patients waiting for elective admission, Mental Health specialties, Provider based, September 1997 to September 2005
		
			Weeks 
			 Quarter (as at September each year) Code Name 0–2 3–5 6–8 9–11 12–14 15–17 21–23 Total Median wait Mean 
		
		
			 2001 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 n/a n/a 
			 2002 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 6 n/a n/a 
			 2003 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			Weeks 
			 Quarter (as at September each year) Code Name 0–1 1–2 2–3 3–4 4–5 5–6 6 plus Total Median wait Mean 
		
		
			 2004 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 n/a n/a 
			 2005 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			Weeks 
			 Quarter (as at September each year) Code Name 0–2 3–5 6–8 9–11 12–14 15–17 21–23 Total Median wait Mean 
		
		
			 1998 RML Blackpool Wyre & Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 n/a n/a 
			 1999 RML Blackpool Wyre & Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 9.8 10.0 
			 2000 RML Blackpool Wyre & Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 
			 2001 RML Blackpool Wyre & Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			  
			 2002 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			 2003 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			 2004 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			 2005 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Denotes organisations where fewer than 10 patients were seen.
	Notes:
	Data for specialties
	710—Mental Illness
	711—Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
	712—Forensic Psychiatry
	713—Psychotherapy
	715—Old Age Psychiatry
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07.

Private Finance Initiative

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the use of private finance initiative projects in the NHS.

Jane Kennedy: The private finance initiative has enabled the national health service to build 78 new hospital schemes since 1997. We remain committed to the continued use of PFI. In order to ensure that future schemes continue to be locally affordable and suitable for the needs of patients we have asked all trusts with planned schemes to reappraise their proposals.

Mileage Allowances

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last discussed with NHS Employers the calculation of mileage allowance for community nurses and voluntary drivers.

Liam Byrne: It is the responsibility of the NHS Staff Council to set mileage allowances for NHS staff. The Secretary of State has asked NHS Employers, who represent management side in England on the NHS Staff Council, to represent the NHS on this and other issues. We understand that the NHS Staff Council will consider mileage allowances for NHS staff in their work programme this year.
	It is the responsibility of individual organisations to determine whether and how much to reimburse expenses for volunteer drivers. However, it would be good practice for volunteer drivers and paid staff to be paid equal mileage rates.

Detoxification Units

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of in-patient detoxification units in north west England

Liam Byrne: The National Treatment Agency's (NTA) 'National survey of inpatient drug services in England' (2005) identified 16 services providing in-patient drug treatment in the north west region. In 2003–04, the NTA national needs assessment found 1,441 drug misusers from the north west accessed in-patient treatment.

NHS/Primary Care Trust Deficits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her latest projections are for deficits in NHS trusts and primary care trusts in 2005–06.

Jane Kennedy: The national health service is forecasting a net year-end deficit of around £620 million for 2005–06. This amounts to less than 1 per cent. of funding available. We are taking action now with the minority of organisations that are underperforming with the aim of restoring financial balance.

NHS/Primary Care Trust Deficits

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her Department's plans to tackle deficits in NHS trusts.

Jane Kennedy: There is a deficit in a minority of national health service organisations, and a large proportion of the gross NHS deficit is in a relatively small number of organisations, so the focus of our effort will be on these organisations. KPMG have already carried out an initial assessment of 62 organisations. Following this exercise, 18 organisations will receive urgent turnaround support to help them deliver efficiency improvements, and appropriate support for a further 23 is being put in place. We have also commissioned an assessment of a further 35 organisations.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people attended Accident and Emergency departments in (a) England and (b) West Cheshire Primary Care Trust (i) in total and (ii) on Saturday mornings in each year since 1995.

Liam Byrne: Accident and emergency (A&E) attendance figures for England for the years requested are shown in the table and is available on the Department's website at: www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/about_data/a_and_e_attendances.htm.
	The Cheshire West Primary Care Trust is not a provider of A&E services. However, the Countess of Cheshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been providing A&E services within the Cheshire West geographical area since 1993. Attendance figures for this trust are also shown in the table.
	
		Total attendances at A&E departments, 1995–96 to 2004–05
		
			   England Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust 
		
		
			 1995–96 14,234,290 n/a 
			 1996–97 14,126,177 55,952 
			 1997–98 14,364,146 55,860 
			 1998–99 14,280,388 54,333 
			 1999–2000 14,629,025 56,380 
			 2000–01 14,293,307 54,712 
			 2001–02 14,044,018 55,813 
			 2002–03 14,045,575 55,319 
			 2003–04 16,516,845 57,816 
			 2004–05 17,837,180 58,310 
		
	
	Notes:
	From 2003–04 attendances at A&E walk-in centres were included.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH09, QMAE
	The data requested on A&E attendance on Saturday mornings are not collected centrally.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost to the NHS has been of raising the target for patients being seen in Accident and Emergency departments within four hours from 95 percent. to 98 percent.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died as a result of delays in accident and emergency departments in each of the past five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested could only be made available at disproportionate cost.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of targets for accident and emergency departments on the working practices of medical assessment units.

Liam Byrne: Assessment suggests delivery of the four-hour accident and emergency operational standard has had a positive impact on practice in medical assessment units. National best practice guidelines have been made available as such units have become standard across the national health service.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with (a) NHS medical practitioners and (b) nursing staff on the impact of the Government targets for accident and emergency on the services provided to patients by the NHS.

Liam Byrne: The Department holds regular and frequent discussions with a wide range of national health service staff. Feedback from these sessions shows there to be a wide consensus amongst doctors and nurses that the delivery of the four-hour standard has positively transformed accident and emergency services for patients and staff.

Agency Staff (North-West)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of agency (a) nurses and (b) doctors has been in each year since 2000 in the (i) Liverpool and (ii) Southport and Ormskirk area, broken down by hospital.

Liam Byrne: The information is not available in the format requested. However, information has been provided for each national health service trust in the Liverpool and Southport and Ormskirk area.
	
		
			  £000 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre—Liverpool NHS Trust  
			 Medical 175 15 54 55 69 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 469 1,075 1,155 326 162 
			   
			 Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust  
			 Medical 431 523 647 695 703 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 128 371 736 742 932 
			   
			 Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust  
			 Medical 512 678 894 677 649 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 1,025 1,050 1,079 1,077 489 
			   
			 Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust  
			 Medical — — 1 410 139 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 144 219 113 41 39 
			   
			 Walton Neurology Centre NHS Trust  
			 Medical — — — — — 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 372 332 570 116 376 
			   
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust  
			 Medical 510 478 701 890 758 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 1,896 2,220 2,875 1,121 321 
			   
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust  
			 Medical 642 821 1,070 714 1,093 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 896 834 416 413 375 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Financial Returns of NHS Trusts.

Ambulance Service

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances have been recorded of the ambulance service using mobile phone location data to effect a rescue operation.

Liam Byrne: Mobile phone location information is increasingly used by ambulance services to help identify the location of 999 callers, but information on frequency and purpose of usage is not collected centrally.

Ambulance Service

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults on ambulance staff while on duty in Lancashire were recorded in each of the last five years; and how many prosecutions resulted in each case.

Liam Byrne: This information is not available in the format requested.
	The NHS Security Management Service (SMS), created in April 2003, has collected data on the number of physical assaults on national health service staff in England for the period 2004–05. The figure for the ambulance service was 1,329.
	Information about the number of prosecutions resulting from reports of assaults on ambulance staff was not collected centrally for the period 2000–04. The number of prosecutions identified involving assaults on ambulance staff in 2004–05 in England totalled 107.
	A breakdown of figures for assaults and prosecutions for each ambulance trust in England for the year 2004–05 will be released shortly.

Ambulance Service

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of demand for ambulance services was in each ambulance trust between midnight and four a.m. on 4 December (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not centrally collected by the Department.
	Level of demand for ambulance services is based on the number of emergency calls received by ambulance trusts. The data that the Department does collect on emergency calls is published in the statistical bulletin, Ambulance services, England: 2004–05", which is available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/36/79/04113679.pdf.

Ambulance Service

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding her Department has allocated for training controllers to expand their local geographical knowledge to prepare for the proposed reorganisation of ambulance trusts.

Liam Byrne: Ambulance trusts are responsible for funding training of control room staff.
	Ambulance control room staff use advanced technology to match the nearest resource to patients. Therefore, they are not solely reliant on their local knowledge of the area in which they work when directing ambulances to emergency call-outs. In addition, a lot of local knowledge comes from front-line staff driving the vehicles. There are no plans to reduce the number of staff involved on front-line healthcare duties as part of the proposed reorganisation of ambulance trusts.

Brain Tumours (Treatment)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations she has received on the use of (a) temozolomide and (b) carmustine implants for the treatment of newly diagnosed high grade glioma;
	(2)  what discussions she has had with (a) scientists, (b) clinicians and (c) brain tumour charities on the use of (i) carmustine implants and (ii) temozolomide.

Rosie Winterton: We are not aware of any formal representations on the use of temozolomide and carmustine implants for the treatment of newly diagnosed high grade glioma.
	Ministers have not had any formal discussions on the use of temozolomide and carmustine implants for the treatment of newly diagnosed high grade glioma.
	However, the Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to appraise carmustine implants and temozolomide for the treatment of newly diagnosed high-grade glioma.
	As part of the appraisal process NICE has consulted with the manufacturers of carmustine implants and temozolomide as well as professional and patient groups.
	NICE has now published preliminary recommendations on the use of carmustine implants and temozolomide in the treatment of newly diagnosed high-grade glioma. It is important to note that these recommendations do not constitute the Institute's formal guidance on this technology and may change after consultation.

Breast Cancer

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many women there are in West Lancashire aged 40 to 49 years with a family history of breast cancer;
	(2)  how many women in West Lancashire aged 40 to 49 years with a family history of breast cancer received a mammogram in 2004–05.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.

Cancelled Operations (North-West)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled by each hospital in the (a) Southport and Ormskirk and (b) Liverpool in the last year for which figures are available; and how many of those patients were operated on within 28 days of the operation being cancelled.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the number of last minute cancellations for non-clinical reasons and the number of which were operated on within 28 days for hospital trusts in the (a) Southport and Ormskirk area and (b) Liverpool area.
	
		Cancelled operations for non clinical reasons
		
			 National health service hospital trust Number of last minute cancellations for non-clinical reasons Of which were operated on within 28 days 
		
		
			 Southport and Ormskirk area   
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 92 92 
			
			 Liverpool area   
			 Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust 272 245 
			 Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust 146 146 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals Universities NHS Trust 343 276 
			 Liverpool Womens Hospital NHS Trust 62 60 
			 Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust 107 87 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre—Liverpool NHS Trust 348 336 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data are for the latest 12 months from October 2004 to September 2005.
	2. A last minute cancellation is one that occurs on the day the patient was due to arrive, after they have arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation. For example, you are to be admitted to hospital on a Monday for an operation scheduled for the following day (Tuesday). If the hospital cancels your operation for non-clinical reasons on the Monday then this would count as a last minute cancellation. This includes patients who have not actually arrived in hospital and have been telephoned at home prior to their arrival.
	3. An operation which is rescheduled to a time within 24 hours of the original scheduled operation should be recorded as a postponement and not as a cancellation. The QMCO collection does not record the number of postponements.
	4. Some common non-clinical reasons for cancellations by the hospital include: ward beds unavailable; surgeon unavailable; emergency case needing theatre; theatre list over-ran; equipment failure; admin error; anaesthetist unavailable; theatre staff unavailable; and critical care bed unavailable.
	Source:
	Department of Health dataset, Quarterly Monitoring of Cancelled Operations (QMCO).

Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the anonymised annual salaries are for NHS chief executives within the Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority area, including the strategic health authority itself.

Liam Byrne: This information is not held centrally but can be obtained from the annual reports of the relevant national health service organisations.

Choosing Health White Paper

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has allocated to implementing the Choosing Health White Paper; what sum has been earmarked from this allocation for the prevention, detection and treatment of (a) sexually transmitted diseases and (b) HIV/AIDS; and over what time scale.

Caroline Flint: Over the next three years £1 billion, in addition to planned mainstream funding, will be invested to catalyse action that supports people in taking responsibility for improving their health, through the implementation of the Choosing Health White Paper. Of this, £300 million, over three years, is for measures to improve sexual health.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to commission the production of a national service framework on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Liam Byrne: The Department is currently considering its response to the chief medical officer's recommendation that a national service framework be formulated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Departmental Advertising Campaigns

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the public information advertising campaigns run by her Department in the past 12 months; and what her Department spent on (a) newspapers and (b) television advertising for those campaigns.

Jane Kennedy: Media spend on public information advertising for the Department for the period 1 January to 31 December 2005 was £23.06 million. The campaigns are listed in the table with a breakdown of newspaper and television advertising costs.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Campaign Television advertising Newspapers 
		
		
			 Tobacco education 12.9 1.84 
			 Sexual health — 0.20 
			 E111/EHIC — 1.13 
			 Flu immunisation 0.80 0.38 
			 NHS Careers 2.01 1.86 
			 Job shops — 0.21 
			 Social care recruitment 1.06 0.12 
			 Get the right treatment — 0.55

Departmental IT Systems

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent on IT systems in each year since 1997; what the purpose of each system is; what the outturn against planned expenditure of each system was; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date of completion was of each system.

Liam Byrne: Information requested has been placed in the Library.

Diverticulitis

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what treatment is available on the NHS for the elderly who suffer from non-life threatening diverticulitis;
	(2)  many people the NHS treated for diverticulitis in the last year for which figures are available; and what the cost was of treating those patients;
	(3)  what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the (i) life expectancy and (ii) quality of life of those suffering from non-life threatening diverticulitis.

Liam Byrne: The symptoms, and the risk of complications, associated with diverticulitis can usually be controlled by good self-care aimed at reducing the incidence of constipation through a high-fibre diet with adequate fluid intake and exercise. For those where this is not possible stool bulking agents can be prescribed.
	Information on the numbers treated for diverticulitis, and the associated cost to the national health service, is not collected.
	We are not aware of any research on life expectancy, or the quality of life, for those living with diverticulitis undertaken by the Department.

Drug and Alcohol Detoxification

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on waiting times for in-patient drug and alcohol detoxification treatment in (a) Lancaster and Wyre and (b) Lancashire if the Castle Unit at Ridge Lea Hospital in Lancaster closes.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	This is the responsibility of the Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority in partnership with the primary care trusts in the area.

Drug and Alcohol Detoxification

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability of in-patient drug and alcohol detoxification services in (a) Lancashire, (b) Lancaster and Wyre and (c) the North West.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally. However, the Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority reports that there are a mixture of private and national health service facilities available. NHS facilities include:
	the Castle Unit and Harvey House at Lancaster;
	Kenyon House (drugs) at Drugs North West in Prestwich and
	Wentwoth House (alcohol) at Eccles.
	The main referral point for drug detoxification is Kenyon House, as all three drug action teams fund bed nights there. Private units include:
	Abbey Gisburn Park Hospital;
	the Clifton Detox and Pierpoint house units at St. Annes-on-Sea and
	the Priory Hospital Lancashire in Preston.
	Waiting times for detoxification beds varies according to the differing demand from individual services.

Fertility Treatment

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, column 1568W, on fertility treatment, what percentage of primary care trusts (PCTs) responded to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence survey on the implementation of its guidelines on the assessment and treatment of people with fertility problems; and what percentage of all PCTs reported that they were providing at least one cycle of IVF to all eligible couples.

Caroline Flint: The overall response rate to the survey carried out by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence was 42.4 percent., the responses covering 128 primary care trusts (PCTs). Over half (63.5 percent.) of the PCTs replying said that they were offering one cycle of in vitro fertilization, with a further 31.7 percent, offering two cycles. Those responding, and indicating that they are providing at least one cycle, represent approximately 40 percent, of all PCTs. We are discussing with Infertility Network UK (IN-UK), the leading voluntary organisation representing the interests of fertility patients, ways in which IN-UK can work with PCTs to help ensure that fertility patients' voices are heard when decisions about the provision of services are made at local level.

Food Labelling

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Food Standards Agency about the revised food labelling system; and when she expects to report the Agency's conclusions.

Caroline Flint: The European Commission has indicated that it plans to propose revisions to the European Union legislation on nutrition labelling in 2007 in order to meet consumer needs and expectations. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) will consult with stakeholders on all aspects of the new proposals when they are published.
	The FSA is currently consulting on proposals for a voluntary front of pack simplified system of nutrition labelling that will make it easier for people to make healthier food choices. This consultation closes on 8 February. The recommended scheme will be considered by the FSA's board at its open meeting on 9 March.

Foundation Trusts

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the detailed results of the evaluations of the state of readiness to become foundation trusts of all hospitals that were examined in the pilot project in 2005.

Liam Byrne: The outcome of the whole health community diagnostic programme will be an action plan in each trust setting out what they need to do to achieve national health service foundation trust status and an indication of when they might enter the applications process. Action plans for each trust will need to be agreed between the trust and their strategic health authority and will be considered by the trust board at a meeting where the papers will be made public in the usual way.

Gambling

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what gambling addiction services are available in (a) Lancashire and (b) Lancaster and Wyre.

Liam Byrne: Very few problem gamblers present to the national health service for treatment and specialist services are not widely available. However, most addiction services which concentrate on substance misuse are also prepared to treat problem gamblers. However, this data are not centrally collected by the Department.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been registered with a GP in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: From 1 April 2004 patients register with a practice rather than an individual general practitioner. Total registration data are shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of patients registered with a general practitioner and from 2004 general practice in England
		
			  
		
		
			 1 October 1997 50,917,256 
			 1 October 1998 51,117,646 
			 1 October 1999 50,898,948 
			 30 September 2000 51,336,812 
			 30 September 2001 51,254,833 
			 30 September 2002 51,524,894 
			 30 September 2003(43) 52,713,780 
			 30 September 2004(44) 52,527,737 
		
	
	(43) 2003 patient data have been revised from previously published figures.
	(44) Numbers of patients registered with a general practice.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely effect on the number of inappropriate (a) investigations, (b) prescriptions and (c) referrals should multiple registration be introduced.

Liam Byrne: These are among the considerations we are taking into account in preparing the forthcoming White Paper following the public consultation on Your Health, Your Care, Your Say".

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the (a) condition and (b) fitness for purpose of general practitioner practice premises.

Liam Byrne: Any person entering into a contract or agreement with a primary care trust (PCT) under which they are to provide primary medical services is required to ensure that the premises used for the provision of such services are suitable for the delivery of those services and are sufficient to meet the reasonable needs of the contractor's patients.
	PCTs are responsible for monitoring compliance with these contracts or agreements including any necessary assessment of the condition and fitness for purpose of practice premises.

General Practitioners

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data her Department collects from primary care trusts via the annual general practice assessment questionnaire.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not centrally collect any data from the general practice assessment questionnaire. The conduct of the questionnaire is performed by practices or for practices by a third party and acted upon locally.

Gershon Review

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department has made towards its Gershon review targets.

Liam Byrne: Up to September 2005, the latest for which confirmed figures are currently available we have achieved £1,709 million against our target of £6,500 million by March 2008.
	Details of this early progress are provided in the Department's autumn performance report 2005 published on 7 December 2005 and is available on our website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/42/52/04124252.pdf

Haemophilia

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is of controlling the bleeding of people with haemophilia (a) using recombinant factor VIII and factor IX and (b) using plasma derived products.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not held centrally.

Health Workers (Checks)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education regarding checks for health workers who work with children in schools; and when such discussions took place.

Liam Byrne: Prior to her announcement on 19 January, the Secretary of State had conversations about safeguarding children with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 12 and 18 January.

Herceptin

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 128W, on Herceptin, for what reasons Herceptin is excluded from section 10(6)(4) of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme published on 3 November 2004.

Jane Kennedy: Herceptin is not excluded from the 2005 pharmaceutical price regulation scheme under paragraph 10.6.4. All branded licensed national health service medicines are subject to the scheme irrespective of which indications are licensed.

Hospital Beds

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for hospital bed occupancy; how many beds have been available in (a) general and (b) acute wards in hospitals in Lancashire Teaching NHS Trust in each year since 1997; and what percentage of these were occupied on average in each year.

Liam Byrne: Evidence suggests that the optimal bed occupancy rate is around 82 to 85 per cent. These figures however are merely a guideline and it is up to the national health service locally to decide how best to manage their services.
	The number of beds that have been made available in general and acute wards in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, and the percentage of these that were occupied on average since 1997 is shown in the table. The data are collected on a provider rather than a commissioner basis.
	
		Average daily number of available general and acute beds in wards open overnight and occupancy rate, Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
		
			  Available Percentage occupancy 
			  Acute General Acute General 
		
		
			 1997–98(45) 867 144 76.5 81.3 
			 1998–99(45) 880 135 79.5 85.9 
			 1999–2000(45) 890 123 80.8 87.8 
			 2000–01(45) 894 135 82.0 90.7 
			 2001–02(46) 903 163 82.9 90.6 
			 2002–03 929 144 81.8 93.1 
			 2003–04 950 135 85.3 95.4 
			 2004–05 936 130 84.1 87.6 
		
	
	(45) Figures represent Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust and Preston Acute Hospital NHS Trust.
	(46) Figures represent Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust
	Note:
	Revised 7 December 2005 following refresh of dataset in line with DH revisions Policy General beds are defined as Geriatric beds.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03

Hospital Beds

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing shortages of hospital beds during winter.

Rosie Winterton: Strategic health authorities are responsible for ensuring that national health service organisations work together with other stakeholders, including NHS foundation trusts, to coordinate and improve NHS services throughout the year. Effective hospital capacity planning and bed management is one key element in this local process.
	It is a tribute to all NHS staff that, nationally, the patient experience in accident and emergency and elective care has continually improved over recent years. For example, over 98 per cent. of patients are now seen and treated in A&E in less than four hours.

Hospital Beds

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds are available in (a) general and (b) acute wards in each hospital in (i) Liverpool and (ii) Southport and Ormskirk.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the average daily number of general and acute beds available in hospital trusts in Liverpool and Southport and Ormskirk.
	
		Average daily number of available general and acute beds, 2004–05
		
			 National health service hospital trust Acute General 
		
		
			 Liverpool   
			 Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust 773 157 
			 Liverpool Womens Hospital NHS Trust 66 — 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust 947 251 
			 Royal Liverpool Childrens NHS Trust 249 — 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre—Liverpool NHS Trust 217 — 
			 Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust 133 — 
			
			 Southport and Ormskirk   
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 537 51 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. General beds are defined as geriatric beds.
	2. Revised 7 December 2005 following refresh of dataset in line with DH revisions policy.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03.

Hospital Patients (Liverpool)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients treated in (a) Alder Hey, (b) Liverpool Women's hospital, (c) Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospital, (d) Aintree hospital, (e) Cardio Thoracic Centre and (f) Walton Centre for neurology in each of the last three years were resident in (i) Southport and (ii) West Lancashire constituency.

Liam Byrne: Information is not available in the format requested. However, the following tables show the counts of finished consultant episodes and patients at Royal Liverpool Childrens, Liverpool Womens Hospital National Health Service Trust, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals Universities NHS Trust, Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust, The Cardiothoracic Centre—Liverpool NHS Trust, Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust where the patients are resident within the Southport and Formby primary care trust (PCT) and West Lancashire PCT.
	
		Counts of finished consultant episodes and patients NHS hospitals, England 2002–03 to 2004–05
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 PCT of residence: Southport and Formby PCT Finished consultant episodes Patient counts Finished consultant episodes Patient counts Finished consultant episodes Patient counts 
		
		
			 Provider of treatment   
			 Royal Liverpool Childrens NHS Trust 716 416 903 481 884 507 
			 Liverpool Womens Hospital NHS Trust 328 253 397 291 379 288 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals Universities NHS Trust 725 395 782 474 700 460 
			 Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust 1,312 972 1,396 985 1,725 1,065 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre—Liverpool NHS Trust 422 312 388 274 430 309 
			 Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust 256 175 243 169 252 170 
		
	
	
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
			 PCT of residence: West Lancashire PCT Finished consultant episodes Patient counts Finished consultant episodes Patient counts Finished consultant episodes Patient counts 
		
		
			 Provider of treatment   
			 Royal Liverpool Childrens NHS Trust 657 444 772 463 840 438 
			 Liverpool Womens Hospital NHS Trust 212 155 219 168 243 168 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals Universities NHS Trust 436 245 448 253 458 272 
			 Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust 985 682 1,235 794 1,199 786 
			 The Cardiothoracic Centre—Liverpool NHS Trust 389 296 437 309 338 241 
			 Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust 234 144 238 150 296 165 
		
	
	Notes:
	Finished consultant episode (FCE)
	An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	Patient counts
	Patient counts are based on the hospital episode statistics (HES) unique patient identifier, HESID. This identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data is incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	Primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) data quality PCT and SHA data was added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002–03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment is poor in 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997–98 and 1998–99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.
	Ungrossed Data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is the data is ungrossed.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre

Housing Development

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will discuss with the Deputy Prime Minister the merits of including health impact assessments in planning for areas designated for housing growth.

Caroline Flint: The Government's White Paper Choosing health" integrated health impact assessment (HIA) into the regulatory impact assessment (RIA) process so that all Government Departments could consider the possible impact of their policies on health.
	The Department has regular contact with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on a range of issues including the integration of health considerations in planning. We have provided information on health in new ODPM guidance on strategic environmental assessment and sustainability appraisal. Such appraisals are applied to regional spatial strategies and local development documents which are used for planning purposes.

Improving Working Lives Standard

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the programmes which form part of the Improving Working Lives standard; how much funding has been allocated to each of these programmes since their start date, broken down by financial year; from what sources the funding for these programmes has been derived (a) in past years and (b) in 2005–06; if she will make it her policy that funding will be made available to support (i) the flexible careers scheme, (ii) the NHS Childcare Strategy, (iii) the GP Returner scheme, (iv) the Golden Hello scheme and (v) the NHS Delayed Retirement scheme in five financial years; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The improving working lives (IWL) standard was launched in October 2000 with an initial allocation of £9 million to health organisations and funding to promote IWL in subsequent years is in the table. IWL supports the aims of the NHS Plan in relation to increasing the national health service workforce. IWL is a feature of every day management in the NHS with successful implementation of modern employment practices and follows seven areas of good practice, which include flexible working and flexible retirement, child care and support for carers.
	
		Improving working lives
		
			  Funding (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 9 million 
			 2002–03 1.9 million 
			 2003–04 2.6 million 
			 2004–05 722,000 
			 2005–06 33,000 
		
	
	Initiatives such as the flexible careers scheme is one of many options for employers, which support the broader IWL ethos of promoting work life balance through flexible working. Other options on flexible working include the use of different rosters and working patterns to reflect service delivery.
	The flexible careers scheme for hospital doctors was introduced in November 2001 and extended to general practitioners in 2002. The scheme supports flexible working and return to practice for doctors and general practitioners and Departmental funding from central programme budgets which is shown in the table.
	
		Flexible Careers Scheme
		
			  Funding (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 30,000 
			 2002–03 640,000 
			 2003–04 9.1 million 
			 2004–05 23 million 
		
	
	Flexible working is now well embedded in the NHS through implementation of modern employment practice and legislation. The management and funding of the scheme is in the process of being devolved to local health organisations.
	The NHS child care strategy had over £70 million invested between 2001 to 2004 to provide 150 nurseries for NHS staff. In addition, the Government committed the £100 million savings from Shifting the Balance of Power (StBoP) to extending the child care strategy, to ensure that the child care needs of all staff are met. From 2004–05 responsibility for child care has been devolved to the NHS.
	In 2004–05 support for child care was extended to NHS students in the form of NHS student child care allowance. In 2004–05, £7 million was provided from central programme budget and in 2005–06, the investment will rise to approximately £16 million.
	The golden hello scheme for general practitioners was replaced in April 2005 by the primary care development scheme with the aim to provide funding, targeted locally, at those areas that have the greatest recruitment difficulties in general practice. The Department allocated £13 million to support the scheme in 2005–06 to strategic health authorities.
	The NHS delayed retirement scheme was replaced from 1 April 2004 by the new seniority arrangements negotiated for the new general practitioner contract. Retaining staff approaching retirement and encouraging staff to work beyond conventional retirement age one of the key features of IWL.

Independent Sector Treatment Centres

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) on the morale of NHS staff; and whether her Department has conducted a survey of the opinion of NHS staff on the effectiveness of ISTCs.

Liam Byrne: No such assessments or surveys have been undertaken.

Influenza

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to question reference 40822, what the closing date is for tenders to contract to supply influenza vaccine to tackle a pandemic.

Caroline Flint: We have just concluded pre-tender meetings with the manufacturers who expressed an interest to the Official Journal of the European Union. The closing date for tenders was 28 November 2005. Final tenders will be issued by the end of this month following comments received on the draft issued before the pre-tender meetings.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2005, Official Report, column 971W, on influenza, which manufacturers have responded to the invitation to tender for a contract to supply pandemic influenza vaccine; when the invitation to tender for the contract closed; when she expects to agree the contract to supply pandemic influenza vaccine; when she expects influenza vaccine manufacturers to have sufficient capacity to produce 120 million doses of influenza vaccine to the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We have just concluded pre-tender meetings with the manufacturers who expressed an interest to the Official Journal of the European Union. The closing date for tenders was 19 October 2005. Final tenders will be issued by the end of this month following comments received on the draft issued before the pre-tender meetings. It is too early to give an indication of production capabilities because this will depend upon the nature of the eventual virus.

Influenza

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the number of people in at-risk groups who were unable to obtain a seasonal influenza vaccination in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in 2005.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally.

IT Costs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the average percentage of the overall budget of (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS trusts which was spent on IT in the most recent period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of the allocation to a typical (a) primary care trust and (b) NHS trust is assumed to be for information technology expenditure.

Liam Byrne: The great majority of funding allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) is not ring fenced, and national health service trusts do not receive allocations but are paid for the provision of care services commissioned from them by PCTs. Each NHS organisation is free, and expected, to use its resources in the way that delivers the best available value for money.
	Based on NHS summarised accounts data, spending in 2004–05 on information technology (IT) represented 6.5 per cent. of total NHS trust capital expenditure, and 16.6 per cent. of total primary care trust capital expenditure.
	Revenue expenditure on IT is reported through an annual national survey of NHS bodies. Based on information from the 2004 survey, the latest period for which figures are available, the average percentage of revenue allocations which NHS bodies as a whole planned to spend on IT in 2004–05 is 2.11 per cent.
	Detailed information from 2004 survey returns can be found on the NHS Connecting for Health's website at: www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/publications.
	Because of the different sources and accounting bases for the available information, it is not possible to differentiate separate percentage revenue figures for NHS trusts and PCTs, or to quote a meaningful aggregate figure for combined capital and revenue expenditure on IT for either NHS trusts or PCTs.
	Notes:
	1. Figures do not include the Department's central expenditure on IT through the national programme for IT.
	2. With effect from 2004–05, NHS foundation trusts (FTs) have not been required to submit financial returns to the Department, and consequently FT data are not included in the percentages for capital expenditure.
	3. Percentage revenue expenditure derives from returns provided in 2004 by 568 out of 600 NHS organisations in response to the national survey.

Khat

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of khat on the health of its users.

Caroline Flint: The Department has made no formal assessment of the impact of khat on the health of its users, however we keep the evidence for health harms under on-going review to inform health messages and health policy.
	The Advisory Council of the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has recently been reviewing the evidence of harms associated with khat use. The Department has an observer role on ACMD so we are fully informed of the scientific evidence and independent expert judgement of its harms in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
	In December 2005 the ACMD produced a report for the Home Secretary, and a number of recommendations. The recommendations included that khat should not be brought under the controls of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, and a number of supplementary recommendations on educating and informing people of the risks posed by khat, and ensuring appropriate treatment and advice services are targeted where they are needed. The full report and recommendations can be found at www.drugs.gov.uk.
	The Home Secretary announced on the 19 January that he accepted the council's recommendations in full.

Lung Disease

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to appoint a senior policy lead within her Department on lung disease and treatment.

Liam Byrne: The Department has no plans to appoint a senior policy lead on lung disease and treatment.

Mental Health Services

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health tribunal hearings took place in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The number of mental health review tribunal hearings in England that have taken place over the last five business years are as follows:
	
		
			  Hearings 
		
		
			 2000–01 11,535 
			 2001–02 11,091 
			 2002–03 10,076 
			 2003–04 12,323 
			 2004–05 11,682

Mental Health Services

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many referrals there were to (a) psychiatrists, (b) clinical psychologists, (c) psychotherapists, (d) cognitive and behavioural therapists and (e) other therapists in each of the last five years, broken down to the most local level for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the requested format because such information is only collected for consultant-led services. Information on the number of admissions under the care of a mental illness consultant in each of the last five years has been placed in the Library. The information is broken down according to care provider, strategic health authority and regional Government office boundaries where possible.

Midwives

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total number of midwives working in the NHS has been in each year since 1997, expressed as (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent; and what the total number of midwives working in the NHS was in each year since 1997 in terms of full-time equivalents per delivery.

Liam Byrne: The total number of midwives working in the national health service since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		Midwives employed in the NHS as at 30 September, 1997 to 2004
		
			  Headcount Full-time equivalents 
		
		
			 1997 22,385 18,053 
			 1998 22,841 18,168 
			 1999 22,799 17,876 
			 2000 22,572 17,662 
			 2001 23,075 18,048 
			 2002 23,249 18,119 
			 2003 23,941 18,444 
			 2004 24,844 18,854 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
	The number of midwives working in the NHS in terms of full-time equivalents per delivery is not collected centrally. The number of students entering midwifery training in 2004–05 was 2,374, approaching 50 per cent. more than in 1996–97.

Naltrexone

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the use of naltrexone as a treatment for drug misusers; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has asked the National Institute for Clinical and Health Excellence (NICE) to review the evidence on naltrexone and, by March 2007, deliver a technology appraisal on naltrexone as a treatment for relapse prevention.
	This work has been started and will aim to look at the scientific research to see how effective natltrexone is at helping people stay off drugs, and to identify those groups of drug misusers, in the community and prison settings, who are most likely to benefit from this being prescribed to them. It will also look at advising on the optimum care package that needs to be available to those prescribed naltrexone to secure effective outcomes.

NHS Blood and Transplant

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost implications (a) have been and (b) are expected to be as a result of the merger of the National Blood Authority and UK Transplant.

Jane Kennedy: The merger between the National Blood Authority and UK Transplant will enable the new organisation to achieve savings targets, identified by the arm's length body (ALB) review, to be attained over the next three years.
	NHS Blood and Transplant's specific ALB targets to be achieved by 2008–09 are a reduction in grant in aid of £11 million; further efficiency savings of £16 million; and a reduction in headcount of 153 whole time equivalents.

NHS Blood and Transplant

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) staff and (b) managers are employed at NHS Blood and Transplant;
	(2)  what change there has been in the number of managerial posts as a result of the merger of the National Blood Authority and UK Transplant.

Caroline Flint: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) employs 6,760 staff, of whom 34 per cent. are professionally qualified clinical staff, 55 per cent. provide support to clinical staff and 11 per cent. are managerial and infrastructure support staff.
	The new NHSBT Board replaced the National Blood Authority Board and the UK Transplant Board on 1 October 2005. The new NHSBT Board are working to develop the future strategy and structure for NHSBT.

NHS (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when she expects the turnaround team to report on the situation in the NHS in Oxfordshire;
	(2)  what advice she has (a) sought and (b) received on the projected financial deficit of the NHS in Oxfordshire for 2006–07.

Caroline Flint: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced the formation of turnaround teams at the beginning of December 2005, the aim of these teams is to restore financial balance to the national health service organisations concerned.
	Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust is subject to the first phase of the work which is an initial assessment to establish the position of the trust's financial control and actions to restore financial balance.
	This assessment has now finished and the strategic health authority is currently considering whether the trust should have any further support.

NHS Direct

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of providing answers to calls to NHS Direct in each year since 1998.

Liam Byrne: The data requested are not centrally available.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 145–46W, on NHS finance, if she will provide the equivalent figures for NHS income from fees and charges from NHS trusts in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and if she will outline the reasons for the trend in this income stream from 2002–03 to 2004–05.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 1555–58W which provided the comparable data for 2002–03 and 2003–04. The three years data are:
	
		Fees and charges from NHS trusts
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2002–03 386.1 
			 2003–04 531.7 
			 2004–05 669.4 
		
	
	The figures refer to income from local authorities and other non-national health service income.
	The increase is principally due to increases in income from local authorities for example under care trust joint arrangements or for delayed discharges, over the period.

NHS Finance

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her Written Statement of 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS, on NHS finance data, what planned financial support each (a) strategic health authority, (b) primary care trust and (c) NHS trust will (i) receive and (ii) provide in 2005–06 at (A) month six of 2005–06 and (B) year end 2005–06; and what the forecast gross financial position of each body is at each date.

Liam Byrne: The 2005–06 month six forecast outturn position for all national health service organisations (strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and national health service trusts) is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOfInformation/fs/en
	Copies of this information are available in the Library.
	The figure provided on the Department's website and in the Library, are inclusive of planned support.
	Detailed in-year monitoring data are used for operational management of the NHS. It is not appropriate to publish the data at this stage.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Written Statement of 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS, on NHS finance data, if she will publish the year-end financial forecasts for (a) strategic health authorities, (b) NHS trusts, (c) primary care trusts and (d) the NHS in total as at (i) month seven, (ii) month eight and (iii) month nine of the financial year.

Liam Byrne: The forecast outturn position for 2005–06, as submitted by national health service organisations at the mid-year point (month six), is a net deficit of around £620 million. The 2005–06 month six forecast outturn position for individual NHS organisations (strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts) is available on the Department's website, at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOfInformation/fs/en.
	Copies of this information are available in the Library.
	In-year monitoring data are used for the operational management of the NHS. It is not appropriate to publish the data on an ongoing basis during the year.

NHS IT Programme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contractors have been involved in the delivery of the NHS IT programme; and for how long each contractor has been involved.

Liam Byrne: The national programme for information technology, which is being delivered by the NHS Connecting for Health Agency, has contracts with six primary provider organisations. These are listed, with the date on which contracts were signed.
	
		
			  Month/year contracted 
		
		
			 National service providers  
			 BT (two contracts) December 2003 and February 2004 
			 Cable and Wireless July 2004 
			 Atos Origin October 2003 
			   
			 Local service providers  
			 CSC Alliance December 2003 
			 Accenture (two contracts) December 2003 (both) 
			 Fujitsu Alliance January 2004 
			 BT (with consortium partners) December 2003 
		
	
	Between them these organisations make up the programme's four national application and infrastructure service providers, responsible for delivering services that are common to all users nationally, and the five local service providers, responsible for delivering services at a local level.
	The primary provider organisations have contracts with numerous sub-contractor companies providing, for example, hardware, software and consultancy support, many of which are used by more than one of the primary providers. Additionally, other companies not directly involved in delivering systems and services to the national health service provide, or have provided, business support to the Department and NHS Connecting for Health in connection with the national programme.

NHS Professionals

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library the current (a) financial forecast and (b) financial position of NHS Professionals.

Liam Byrne: The latest annual report and final accounts which give the financial information has been placed in the Library.

NHS Professionals

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget for NHS Professionals was in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06; and what the anticipated budget is for 2006–07.

Liam Byrne: The Department invested £26.6 million in NHS Professionals in 2004–05 and £23 million in 2005–06. Officials are currently working with NHS Professionals to agree a business plan and funding for 2006–07.

NHS Trusts (Chartered Accountants)

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) executive finance directors and (b) non-executive directors of NHS trusts in England are fully qualified chartered accountants.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Obesity

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress she has made in investigating difficulties with access to specialist obesity services since her Department's pledge in June 2004.

Caroline Flint: There are 13 national health service-operated obesity clinics for children and adults located across England.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been commissioned to prepare definitive guidance on the prevention, identification, management and treatment of obesity. This is due in early 2007. Meanwhile, as part of its wider obesity programme, the Department completed consultation on 3 January on:
	an obesity care pathway to assist health professionals in providing obesity services and
	a weight loss guide to be given to patients who intend to lose weight.
	The Department published guidance for primary care trusts (PCTs) on measuring the height and weight of primary school children on 11 January. In order to help PCTs develop local strategies to prevent and tackle overweight and obesity, the Department has also supported the development of an obesity toolkit to signpost the reader to relevant sources of information regarding evidence of effectiveness of interventions.

Ostomy Care

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many ostomy patients returned to hospital for treatment for complications of their surgery in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what steps she is taking to ensure that elderly ostomy patients continue to receive help at home for the related services and appliances they require;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the average age of an ostomy patient;
	(4)  what estimate she has made of the number of ostomy patients who also (a) suffer from a disability and (b) need a walking aid.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of ostomy patients returned to hospital due to complications from their surgery is not available.
	It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to provide adequate health and social care services, including the provision of appliances, for all ostomy patients in their area.
	We have made no estimates on the average age of ostomy patients, or on the number of ostomy patients living with a disability or needing a walking frame.

Ostomy Care

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of surgeries resulting in ostomy performed in (a) England, (b) West Yorkshire, (c) Kirklees and (d) Huddersfield in each of the past 10 years.

Liam Byrne: We have made no estimates for the number of people whose surgery results in an ostomy.

Patient Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether a trained doctor will (a) oversee and (b) verify the accuracy of the transfer of a patient's records to the new electronic system;
	(2)  what safeguards she has put in place to ensure that general practitioners' handwriting is not transcribed wrongly onto electronic patient records;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the time it will take to transfer handwritten general practitioners' notes on to the new IT system;
	(4)  whether a patient's notes will be (a) scanned and (b) transcribed into the new IT system.

Liam Byrne: National health service trusts and general practitioners (GPs) will not be required to transfer handwritten notes to the NHS Care Records Service (NHS CRS) when the services goes live locally. Rather, each patient's care record will be populated using data from existing electronic systems. Trusts and GP practices will, however, be free to supplement the transferred data from paper records where they feel it to be clinically and logistically appropriate.
	GPs already frequently transfer patient records to another GP when a patient changes their address or GP. It is the responsibility of the individual clinician to ensure that electronic data they have entered or transferred to a new or replacement electronic system is correct. An electronic facility to assist this process is currently under development—the 'GP2GP' record transfer service. This will reduce the amount of re-keying required by enabling the direct transfer of the electronic component of a patient's existing care record.
	The Data Protection Act 1998 establishes a set of principles with which users of personal data must comply. These include the duty to ensure that information is accurate and up to date. This duty would extend to individual GPs and other clinicians when transferring local electronic records, or transcribing or scanning paper records, to the NHS CRS. Guidance for transcribing paper records developed by the Royal College of General Practitioners and issued by the Department makes it clear that responsibility for the quality of the necessary processes lies with the individual practice.
	When the NHS CRS is deployed locally, a senior clinician, for example, the principle practitioner in a GP practice is responsible for approving the transfer of data. This only occurs after industry-standard testing procedures have demonstrated that the data has been safely transferred. Verification is by a series of quantitative and qualitative pre- and post-validation checks that ensure that the data stored on the new system is the same as the original.
	It is considered to be good practice for NHS trusts and GP practices to preserve the existing paper records. The facility exists to easily store a case note reference on the electronic system that allows ready identification of the paper record where this may be required.

Patient Safety

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many (a) patient safety incidents and (b) near misses have been reported by category for each hospital within the Cheshire and Merseyside strategic health authority area;
	(2)  how many deaths were recorded as a result of patient safety incidents at (a) Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust, (b) Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, (c) Aintree University NHS Trust and (d) Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh hospitals in 2004.

Liam Byrne: The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) receives patient safety incident reports on a confidential basis. The NPSA does not provide patient safety incident data at a geographical or local national health service organisation level.

Primary Care Trusts (Sunderland)

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which Sunderland primary care trusts will have their final funding for the 2005–06 financial year changed against initial allocation.

Liam Byrne: All Sunderland primary care trusts will have their final funding for the 2005–06 financial year changed against initial allocation. It is standard practice for adjustments to be made against the initial resource allocations mainly for the allocation of additional funds from centrally held budgets.

Private Finance Initiative Schemes

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which private finance initiative schemes in her Department have (a) reached financial close and are completed and operational, (b) have reached financial close and work has started on site, (c) are in negotiation but have not yet reached financial close and (d) have not yet placed advertisements in the Official Journal of the European Union; what the (i) capital value and (ii) completion or anticipated completion date is in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire to the reply I gave on 9 January 2006, Official Report, columns 158W and 159W to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane) and the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude).

Psychiatrists

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) median and (b) mean waiting times for patients waiting to see a consultant psychiatrist as (i) an out-patient first attendance and (ii) an elective in-patient admission were in (A) Lancashire and (B) Lancaster and Wyre in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Patients waiting for elective admission, mental health specialties, provider based, September 1997 to September 2005
		
			 Quarter: September Code name 0–2 3–5 6–8 9–11 12–14 15–17 21–23 Total Median wait (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2001 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 n/a n/a 
			 2002 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 6 n/a n/a 
			 2003 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			 Quarter: September Code name 0–1 1–2 2–3 3–4 4–5 5–6 6 plus Total Median wait (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2004 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 n/a n/a 
			 2005 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			   Quarter: September   Code name   0–2   3–5   6–8   9–11   12–14   15–17   21–23   Total Median wait (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 1998 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 n/a n/a 
			 1999 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 9.8 10.0 
			 2000 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 n/a n/a 
			 2001 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			 2002 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			 2003 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			 2004 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
			 2005 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Denotes organisations where fewer than 10 patients were seen.
	Notes:
	Data for specialties
	710—Mental Illness
	711—Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
	712—Forensic Psychiatry
	713—Psychotherapy
	715—Old Age Psychiatry
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07

Psychiatrists

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) average and (b) target waiting time was to see a (i) psychiatrist and (ii) psychologist for (A) adults and (B) children in (1) Lancashire and (2) Lancaster and Wyre in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Estimated average waiting time from GP written referral to first out-patient appointment, mental health specialties,September 1997 to September 2005
		
			 Provider based 
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first out-patient attendance (weeks 
			 Quarter: September Code Name 0 to<44 to <1313 to <1717 to <21 21 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2002 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 480 332 39 5 5 861 3.6 5.4 
			 2003 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 470 289 28 19 0 806 3.4 5.2 
			 2004 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 419 232 25 0 0 676 3.2 4.7 
			 2005 RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 299 156 0 0 0 455 3.1 4.2 
		
	
	
		
			  Provider based 
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first out-patient attendance (weeks) 
			 Quarter: September Code Name 0 to <44 to <1313 to <26 26 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2001 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 71 130 42 27 270 8.5 12.9 
		
	
	
		
			   Provider based 
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first out-patient attendance (weeks) 
			 Quarter: September Code Name 0 to <44 to <1313 to <1717 to<21 21 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 2002 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 112 123 15 13 21 284 6.2 9.2 
			 2003 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 126 129 20 9 0 284 5.2 6.4 
			 2004 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 231 241 30 0 0 502 4.8 5.9 
			 2005 5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 123 111 15 0 0 249 4.2 5.7 
		
	
	
		Parts of the following organisations merged to form Lancashire Care NHS Trust
		
			Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral 
			 Quarter: September  Code  Name  0 to <44  to <1313  to <26  26 plus Total Median (weeks) Mean (weeks) 
		
		
			 1997 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 40 87 34 32 193 9.9 16.3 
			 1998 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 56 61 28 13 158 7.5 11.7 
			 1999 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 74 68 20 5 167 5.3 8.2 
			 2000 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 77 66 25 11 179 5.8 9.9 
			 2001 REU Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 36 98 20 9 163 8.2 10.8 
			   
			 1997 RJU Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 51 41 7 9 108 4.8 9.8 
			 1998 RJU Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 46 62 7 20 135 7.2 13.3 
			 1999 RJU Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 42 33 7 0 82 4.0 6.1 
			   
			 1997 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 21 51 74 0 146 13.3 13.1 
			 1998 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 12 23 28 33 96 19.3 25.8 
			 1999 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 63 41 0 0 104 3.3 4.6 
			 2000 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 28 43 33 33 137 12.6 20.3 
			 2001 RMB Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 45 53 36 2 136 8.0 9.9 
			   
			 1998 RME Communicare NHS Trust 4 0 0 0 4 n/a n/a 
			   
			 1997 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 80 86 1 0 167 4.4 5.5 
			 1998 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 55 6 0 0 61 2.3 2.6 
			 1999 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 71 22 0 0 93 2.6 3.5 
			 2000 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 62 58 0 0 120 3.9 5.1 
			 2001 RMG Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust 77 35 0 0 112 2.9 4.0 
			   
			 1997 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 31 86 45 3 165 9.4 11.1 
			 1998 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 82 91 12 0 185 5.1 6.3 
			 1999 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 41 74 19 0 134 7.2 8.1 
			 2000 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 202 98 21 5 326 3.2 5.8 
			 2001 RML Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services NHS Trust 254 155 22 0 431 3.4 5.2 
			   
			 1999 RVT North Sefton and West Lancashire NHS Trust 91 164 15 3 273 6.5 7.4 
			 2000 RVT North Sefton and West Lancashire NHS Trust 166 138 0 0 304 3.7 5.0 
			 2001 RVT North Sefton and West Lancashire NHS Trust 65 91 0 0 156 5.3 5.8 
		
	
	n/a denotes organisations where fewer than 10 patients were seen.
	Notes:
	1. Data for specialties:
	710—Mental Illness
	711—Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
	712—Forensic Psychiatry
	713—Psychotherapy
	715—Old Age Psychiatry
	2. Due to small numbers, the calculation of the median wait is prone to fluctuation at PCT and SHA level. Care should be taken when interpreting these figures.
	3. Waiting times apply to consultant-led appointments only. Services in many areas are now run by multi disciplinary teams.
	4. Lancashire Care NHS Trust was formed in an April 2002 merger of the following organisations:
	RMB—Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust (MH services)
	RML—Blackpool, Wyre and Fyde Community Health NHS trust (MH services)
	REU—Burnley Health Care NHS Trust (mental health services)
	RJU—Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust (mental health services)
	RME—Communicare NHS Trust (psychology and drugs services)
	RMG—Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust
	RVT—North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Trust

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allowance for population growth has been made in the budget allocation to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Trust (a) in 2005–06 and (b) in future years.

Jane Kennedy: Revenue allocations are made direct to primary care trusts and not to national health service trusts.

Respiratory Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will amend the quality and outcomes framework for general practitioners to give greater priority to respiratory health.

Liam Byrne: There are two indicator groups in the new quality and outcomes framework for respiratory health, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The indicator groups included in the new agreement were announced in December. However, the full details of the new quality and outcomes framework are not yet available. The guidance for the new framework and the detail of the indicators will be published shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Ridge Lea Hospital

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust's proposal to close the Castle Unit at the Ridge Lea Hospital in Lancaster.

Liam Byrne: The future of the Castle Unit at the Ridge Lea Hospital has been the subject of a recent consultation exercise by the Morecambe Bay Primary Care Trust (PCT). The responses are currently being reviewed and will be discussed at a future board meeting of the PCT.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the infection rates for (a) chlamydia, (b) HIV, (c) gonorrhoea, (d) herpes and (e) syphilis were in the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Primary Care Trust area in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: This data are only routinely published at strategic health authority (SHA) level. This is shown in table 1. Sexually transmitted infections data are not yet available for 2005. The HIV diagnoses are from reports received from laboratories and clinicians by the end of September 2005.
	
		Table 1: Rates(47)(48) per 100,000 population of diagnoses of HIV and other selected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority between 2000–04(49)
		
			 Condition description(50) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 HIV 4.0 4.1 6.5 6.5 7.6 
			 Primary and Secondary Syphilis 0.3 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.6 
			 Uncomplicated Gonorrhoea 7.2 11.8 10.6 10.1 12.7 
			 Uncomplicated Chlamydia 41.3 39.0 59.4 72.1 116.9 
			 Genital Herpes 24.1 25.9 25.0 23.3 27.7 
		
	
	(47) The denominator used to calculate the HIV rate was the population aged 15 above in Kent and Medway SHA.
	(48) The denominator used to calculate STI rates was the total population of the SHA.
	(49) Genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics are open access services, so the data do not relate to residents of the SHA, but diagnoses made in the clinics within the SHA.
	(50) Includes HIV diagnoses made in GUM clinics and other settings such as general practice and infectious disease units. For other STIs, only diagnoses made in GUM clinics are recorded.
	Source:
	Reports of HIV diagnoses and KC60 Returns (other STIs)

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the terms of reference are for the turnaround team sent into Southport and Ormskirk hospital.

Liam Byrne: Following the initial assessment the teams will agree a tailored package of turnaround support with each organisation and the strategic health authority. The teams will then support the chief executives of the organisations in delivering turnaround. The type and length of engagement will be tailored to the needs of specific organisations. The chief executives will remain responsible for delivery in their organisations.

Specialist Gastric Care

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist nurses there are for patients with colitis and Crohn's disease; and how many there have been in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Standish Hospital, Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bidders have been short-listed for the Standish Hospital site, Stroud; when a decision will be made; and what requirement there will be for community involvement in the project.

Liam Byrne: 12 bids or expressions of interest were received following re-marketing of the Standish Hospital site. The local health community has been consulted on the proposals received. Ministers will make a decision as soon as possible.

Student Grants Unit

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken to reply to questions (a) telephoned and (a) emailed to the Student Grants Unit (i) helpline and (ii) email address was in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The NHS Pensions Agency are responsible for the NHS Student Grants Unit.
	There are dedicated telephone lines for universities who are to directly contact the Student Grants Unit without delay. From a limited exercise conducted between September and December 2005 it was apparent that other callers could experience some delay in having their calls dealt with.

Vulnerable Adults

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to extend the Protection of Vulnerable Adults scheme to (a) the NHS and (b) other health and social care settings not covered by the relevant provisions of the Care Standards Act 2000.

Liam Byrne: In response to Sir Michael Bichard's Inquiry in June 2004, and in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills, we have been developing a new vetting and barring scheme, legislation to provide for which will be introduced in February 2006, subject to the agreement of Parliament. This new scheme will apply to all national health service and social care settings.

Young People (Culinary Ability)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish a summary of results of the survey of young people's attitudes to cooking and culinary ability; how much this survey cost; what public health interventions its evidence will be used to support; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: We have been encouraged by the interest in the survey of young people's attitudes to cooking and culinary skills. The survey's findings will, at the earliest opportunity, be placed on the 5 A DAY website at www.5aday.nhs.uk.
	The survey cost £8,000 to undertake.
	The survey was designed to inform the development of the 5 A DAY programme with a focus on young independents aged 16 to 24. Survey results included:
	33 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds have passed off a ready meal as their own and
	one in 10 young people never cook a proper meal for themselves because they do not know how
	To help this group of young people improve their culinary skills, the Department has produced a new free recipe guide, Fuel for Living". The guide provides simple and cost effective recipe ideas and cooking tips, to assist young people in preparing meals and increasing their fruit and vegetable consumption.